A radiation oncologist's and thoracic surgeon's view on the role of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for operable lung cancer.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, also known as stereotactic body radiation therapy, has been developed as an innovative therapy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer and has now emerged as a standard treatment option for medically inoperable patients through careful analysis using prospective multi-institutional trials. We review and update the evidence for use of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in medically inoperable patients with stage I lung cancer, and its possible extension of use to operable patients, from the perspectives of an experienced radiation oncologist and a thoracic surgeon.