Updates in the surgical management of lung cancer

Actualidades en el manejo quirúrgico del cáncer de pulmón

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest malignant neoplasms, mainly due to late diagnosis when treatment options are limited. Its incidence increased with smoking since the 1980s and is now a public health issue. It is classified into non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), with adenocarcinoma being the most common subtype. Low-dose chest CT is the gold standard for screening and allows detection of small tumors. Surgical procedures include thoracotomy, minimally invasive surgery, and robotic surgery. Evaluation and biopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes are essential for staging. Treatment depends on the stage; early stages favor surgery, while advanced stages use chemoradiotherapy for palliation or tumor reduction before surgery.