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Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Elderly: a Practical Approach to Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment

  • Pulmonology and Respiratory Care (D Breen, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Lung cancer is primarily a disease of the elderly. We summarize the literature on screening, diagnosis, and treatment of early non-small cell lung cancer in the elderly population.

Recent Findings

Lung cancer screening has resulted in a reduction in lung cancer mortality and is recommended in some patients up to 80 years old. Minimally invasive techniques, such as endobronchial ultrasound guided biopsy, have allowed for low diagnostic complications rates in elderly patients. Surgical treatment remains the standard of care; however, stereotactic body radiation therapy in non-operative candidates has similar outcomes with less morbidity. Decision to treat and choice of treatment should not be based on age alone, but should incorporate functional status, comorbid disease, and patient preference.

Summary

Advances in screening, diagnostic techniques, and radiation therapies have transformed the management of early non-small cell lung cancer in the elderly. Further studies are needed incorporating larger numbers of geriatric patients in a disease that primarily affects the elderly.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

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  1. San Antonio Military Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Michal J. Sobieszczyk & Andrew P. Polito

  2. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Whittney A. Warren

  3. Interventional Pulmonology, Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center, 9103 Franklin Square Drive, Suite 309, Baltimore, MD, 21237, USA

    William S. Krimsky & Sy Sarkar

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Michal Sobieszczyk, Whittney Warren, Andrew Polito, and Sy Sarkar declare no conflict of interest.

William Krimsky is a part-time employee for the Medtronic corporation. He is also a consultant/CSO for Gala Therapeutics, consultant for Innovital Systems, and consultant for Peytant Solutions.

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Sobieszczyk, M.J., Warren, W.A., Polito, A.P. et al. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Elderly: a Practical Approach to Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Curr Geri Rep 7, 160–168 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13670-018-0252-2

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