Optimizing Pre-Operative Clinical Staging in Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND

Accurate pre-operative clinical staging is essential for guiding treatment in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Discrepancies between clinical and pathological staging raise concerns about treatment appropriateness. This study aimed to assess staging accuracy, identify predictors of discordance, and evaluate survival implications.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Stage I-IIIA NSCLC patients who underwent surgical resection in Melbourne, Australia, between 2011 and 2020. Clinical staging was based on CT, PET, and nodal evaluation; pathological staging was based on surgical histology. The primary outcome was concordance between clinical (cTN) and pathological (pTN) stage. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression models evaluated predictors of discordance and survival.

RESULTS

Among 221 patients, 58% had concordant clinical and pathological staging. Discordance occurred in 42% of cases-23.9% were upstaged and 17.2% downstaged. N-stage concordance was associated with female sex, tumor histology, SUV max, and CT-to-surgery interval. Nodal discordance independently predicted worse survival (HR 0.43, 95% CI: 0.24-0.77; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial discrepancies exist between clinical and pathological staging in resectable NSCLC. Nodal stage discordance is an independent predictor of mortality and highlights the need for improved pre-operative staging strategies to ensure guideline-concordant care.