Stereotactic radiosurgery for early stage non-small cell lung cancer: Rationale, patient selection, results and complications

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death [1]. While advanced disease portends a very poor prognosis, the subset of patients who present with localized disease are potentially curable. Anatomic lobectomy is the current standard of care for early stage lung cancer [2]. Sub-lobar resection is generally reserved for patients with inadequate pulmonary reserve. For patients with small tumors (2 cm or less) new data suggests that sub-lobar resection may be adequate [3, 4]. It has also become apparent that patients with very marginal pulmonary reserve may safely tolerate lung resection or even have improved pulmonary function afterwards [5, 6]. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.