Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Lung Cancer: As It Stands Today

 

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Treatment of “early” stage lung cancer should offer the patient the best chance for cure. Disease-free survival after surgical resection of lung carcinoma in situ has been reported as over 90%. For “microinvasive” lung cancer it may be similar. After resection of stage IA non-small cell lung cancer, survival at 5 years is ∼60 to 70%. If endoscopic or bronchoscopic treatments of early stage lung cancer can offer similar disease-free survival with less perioperative mortality, morbidity, and cost, then they may be alternative front-line therapies. Regardless of therapeutic choice, the initial hurdle is developing a practical detection method for early stage disease. This article reviews early stage lung cancer detection by fluorescence bronchoscopy and potential treatment by the endoscopic techniques of photodynamic therapy, brachytherapy, neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser, electrocautery, and cryotherapy.

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Francis D SheskiM.D. 

Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine

550 North University Blvd., Ste. 5450

Indianapolis, IN 46202

Email: FSheski@iupui.edu