Critical factors for patient management

The main critical factors for lung cancer patient management, apart from TNM staging, include expertise required to offer optimal management and conditions related to the patient, including performance status and weight loss and the presence of the lung, cardiac or other comorbidities. Performance status and wright loss must be assessed for all patients. The minimal pulmonary functional evaluation should include spirometry. The minimal cardiac evaluation should consist of a clinical history and evaluation for cardiac risk factors and disease and, at least preoperatively, an ECG. Age per se is not a contraindication for curative treatment.