title: Lung cancer diagnosis and staging in the minimally invasive age with increasing demands for tissue analysis.
abstract: The diagnosis and staging of patients with lung cancer in recent decades has increasingly relied on minimally invasive tissue sampling techniques, such as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) needle aspiration, transbronchial biopsy, and transthoracic image guided core needle biopsy. These modalities have been shown to have low complication rates, and provide adequate cellular material for pathologic diagnosis and necessary ancillary molecular testing. As an important component to a multidisciplinary team approach in the care of patients with lung cancer, these minimally invasive modalities have proven invaluable for the rapid and safe acquisition of tissue used for the diagnosis, staging, and molecular testing of tumors to identify the best evidence-based treatment plan. The continuous evolution of the field of lung cancer staging and treatment has translated into improvements in survival and quality of life for patients. Although differences in clinical practice between academic and community hospital settings still exist, improvements in physician education and training as well as adoption of technological advancements should help narrow this gap going forward.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology, 2 Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA ; 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA ; 4 Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Folch
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology, 2 Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA ; 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA ; 4 Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology, 2 Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA ; 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA ; 4 Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology, 2 Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA ; 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA ; 4 Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: VanderLaan
keywords: Lung cancer; endobronchial ultrasound with transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA); interventional pulmonology; minimally invasive; molecular testing; staging