Stage I Lung Cancer

Author: Paul Schipper, MD
Institution: OHSU
Date Reviewed: June 2025
Original Case: Stephen C. Yang, MD
Learning Domain: General Thoracic
Learning Objective: Stage I NSCLC: staging, treatment and survival
PowerPoint File: Stage I Lung Cancer

Discussion Points for Conference

• Other staging workup required (indications for PET, EBUS, mediastinoscopy, MRI, needle biopsies)
• Surgical treatment
• Surgical approaches 
• Indications for sublobar resection
• Special populations:  elderly, poor lung or cardiac function, prior cancers, endemic granulomatous areas
• Non-surgical therapies
• Indications for Neo-adjuvant or Adjuvant chemotherapy including immunotherapy?

Learning Points

• Staging modalities complimentary:  CT, PET/CT (usually adequate for stage I disease)
• Additional staging modalities:  EBUS, MRI mediastinoscopy, VATS
• Primary Therapy = surgical resection  
• Likely recurrence:  Locoregional
• Surveillance:  CT scans every 6-12 months