How to follow up patients after curative resection of lung cancer

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Autumn;25(3):213-7. doi: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2013.07.005.

Abstract

Survivors of lung cancer surgery are among the highest-risk patients for developing another lung cancer, yet there is no clear consensus on the method of surveillance for patients after curative surgical resection. Surveillance is no longer futile because the emergence of computed tomography screening has allowed the detection of recurrences and new metachronous cancers at an early stage. In selected patients, lung cancer identified recently on routine computed tomography scan is amenable to curative treatment and is associated with longer survival.

Keywords: CT screening for lung cancer; follow up of lung cancer; low dose CT scan; lung cancer resection.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local*
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary*
  • Pneumonectomy* / adverse effects
  • Pneumonectomy* / mortality
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Treatment Outcome