Nicholas J. Petrelli, MD, FACS, Consulting Editor

The American Cancer Society estimates reveal that there will be 158,800 deaths from lung cancer in 2016. These deaths exceed the total deaths from breast cancer (40,890), colorectal cancer (49,190), and prostate cancer (26,120). This issue of the Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America covers the gamut of the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. There is an excellent article by Drs Y. Zheng, M.T. Jaklitsch, and R. Bueno on neoadjuvant therapy in non–small cell lung cancer, which includes a description of a complete evaluation for patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Drs B. Wei, S.M. Eldaif, and R. Cerfolio have contributed an article entitled, “Robotic Lung Resection for Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer.” This discussion includes a comparison of robotic lobectomy versus video-assisted thoracic surgery. A third article by Drs E.C. Naylor, J.K. Desani, and P.K. Chung from Meridian Health discusses targeted therapy and immunotherapy for lung cancer, which has made a major impact in recent years in the treatment of patients with lung cancer. Drs B.M. Stiles, B. Pua, and N.K. Altorki discuss screening for lung cancer, which, with the use of low-dose CT scans, has demonstrated a decrease in lung cancer mortality. Last, Drs T. Bauer and D. Berkheim have a detailed article on diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy for non–small cell lung cancer. This article includes a description of endobronchial ultrasound and electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy.

The last time the Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America devoted an issue to lung cancer was in 2011. Under the guidance of Dr Krasna, the 2016 issue demonstrates how far the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer have come in just five years. I’d like to thank Dr Krasna and his colleagues for updating our readers on this very important and timely subject.