Restaging after induction therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer

Select patients with stage IIIa-N2 non-small-cell lung cancer will benefit from treatment with induction chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection. The identification of patients with residual N2 disease may allow for selection of those patients most likely to benefit from resection. The optimal strategy for restaging of mediastinal lymph nodes following induction therapy is controversial. Noninvasive, imaging-based strategies are largely ineffective. Minimally invasive approaches such as endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration may identify residual nodal disease, but require surgical confirmation of negative results. Repeat mediastinoscopy may be effective at centers that specialize in this technique, but in the authors opinion its use cannot be broadly recommended. A thoughtful and minimally invasive approach to initial staging of N2 nodes is recommended, reserving mediastinoscopy for restaging whenever possible.