The 1997 International Staging System for non-small cell lung cancer: have all the issues been addressed?

Abstract

The International Staging System for Lung Cancer has been revised recently. Important changes have been made to allow better correlation of prognoses and direction of management. The classification of synchronous pulmonary nodules in the same lobe as the primary tumor as T4 stage IIIB may imply a poorer outcome than is warranted, while the designation of a similar stage for malignant pleural effusion may not be reflective of the very poor prognosis associated with this extent of disease.