Choice of procedure for surgical treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Asymptomatic coin lesions without specific patterns of benign calcifications can and should have a diagnosis established. Surgical diagnosis can be accomplished with very low morbidity. Accurate staging of lung cancer requires tissue confirmation of mediastinal node status either by thorough sampling or by complete node dissection. Complete resection with lobectomy is the preferred treatment providing better results than lesser resections. Segmental or wedge resections and internal radiotherapy are appropriate for patients unable to tolerate lobectomy. Video assisted thoracoscopy may prove useful in wedge excision for patients with poor pulmonary reserve.