Treatment Of Small Cell Lung Cancer: Diagnosis And Management Of Lung Cancer

In patients with SCLC (proven or suspected), a staging evaluation is recommended consisting of a medical history and physical examination, CBC and comprehensive chemistry panel with renal and hepatic function tests, CT of the chest and abdomen with intravenous contrast or CT scan of the chest extending through the liver and adrenal glands, MRI or CT of the brain, and bone scan. (1, B)

In patients with clinically limited-stage (LS)-SCLC, PET imaging is suggested. (2, C)

In patients with SCLC, it is recommended that both the Veterans Administration system (LS vs extensive stage [ES]) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer seventh edition system (TNM) should be used to classify the tumor stage. (1, B)