The incidence of lung cancer in Hungary remains among the highest in Europe. Despite
its high mortality rate, surgical treatment of early stage disease may lead to full
recovery. In the past two decades, the field of thoracic surgery has seen significant
technological advances, as well as a major paradigm shift. Our article aims to summarize
these recent improvements. Prediction of survival rates improved significantly due
to the 8th revision of the TNM system, but there are other new predictive models too.
The growing number of minimally invasive surgical procedures shortened and eased the
pre- and postoperative periods. Perioperative risks can be reduced and quality of
life will improve with sub-lobar resections. A range of newly developed equipment
enables gas exchange leaving free access to airways thus ensuring patient safety during
extended procedures. Finally, the development of novel biological drugs brought on
the need to reconsider the operability of oligometastatic patients and those requiring
so-called salvage procedures.
