Researchers detail in "Positron emission tomography in nonsmall cell lung cancer," new data in small cell lung cancer. According to a study from Leuven, Belgium, "Positron emission tomography (PET) has become a major adjunct to structural imaging for nonsmall cell lung cancer. Established indications are the differential diagnosis of lung nodules, as well as mediastinal lymph node and extrathoracic staging." "More details for small or faint pulmonary nodules became available--information of interest in the era of lung cancer screening trials, in which PET might help to reduce unwanted invasive procedures for benign findings. The strength of PET in mediastinal staging (its high negative predictive value) was confirmed in a randomized stud...

After an initial chemotherapy treatment, radiation may be a better choice than surgery for patients with stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer, according to a randomized controlled trial published in the March 21 Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The authors suggest that a combination of chemotherapy and radiation should be the preferred treatment option for these patients.

Radek had known for some time that his lung cancer was untreatable, but his death on 30th January still came as a shock to his friends and family.