Optimizing Systematic Endoscopic Lymph Node Staging in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Proposals for Integrating the 9th
Daniel P Steinfort1,2, Matthew Evison3,4
1Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, 300 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3050, Australia.
Cancers
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Systematic endoscopic mediastinal lymph node staging accurately defines non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) extent. Enhanced staging, including sampling all lymph nodes >6 mm and synoptic reporting, improves N2 disease classification and patient care.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pulmonology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Accurate staging of locally advanced (cN2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is crucial for treatment planning.
- Endoscopic mediastinal lymph node staging offers superior accuracy compared to imaging techniques.
- Differentiating N2a from N2b disease is critical for prognosis and treatment decisions.
