Diversity, equity and inclusion.

There is good logic behind empiric stereotactic radiation (SBRT) for lung lesions that are high-risk for representing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) per guidelines. With lung cancer screening recommended for more populations than ever, it’s time we ask ourselves: who should be managing positive findings? Pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons obviously come to mind, but, given the above, so, too, should radiation oncologists. Here’s the Mass Gen experience with a truly multidisciplinary pulmonary nodule and lung cancer screening clinic from 2012-2019. Across 1150 patients evaluated for incidental or screening-detected lung nodules, 303 patients (26%) were recommended surgical (n=218) or radiation (n=85) therapies. Of 70 who received radiation, 58 (83%) did so without tissue attainment. Notably, in 2012-2014 before rad oncs were invited to the party, radiation was used in 1.5% of cases, increasing to nearly 7% upon rad onc participation. | Milligan, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022