Abstract
A uniform system for classification of lung cancer has been developed following a prospective field trial study performed at 104 participating institutions. Case records of 1946 patients were submitted for analysis. Clinical, radiographic, or bronchoscopic studies and biopsy of metastases provided the information necessary to stage a lung cancer. The stage classification (0, I, II and III) proposed was based upon the anatomical extent of the primary tumor, the lymph node involvement and the distant metastases. Any patient with small cell carcinoma should be placed aside from the current staging system and be automatically assigned to Stage III.
