skip to main content

Mediastinal staging of NSCLC — SCE Respiratory MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateLung CancerMediastinal staging of NSCLCSCE Respiratory

A 68-year-old man has a 3 cm left upper-lobe NSCLC and PET-positive ipsilateral mediastinal nodes. There is no distant disease. The MDT wants tissue confirmation before deciding radical chemoradiotherapy versus surgery. What is the most appropriate investigation?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: E — Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration

PET-positive mediastinal nodes should be pathologically confirmed, and EBUS-TBNA is a minimally invasive first-line approach for accessible mediastinal staging. Thoracotomy without nodal confirmation risks inappropriate surgery. Sputum cytology, delayed PET and serum markers do not provide reliable mediastinal tissue staging.

Reference: NICE NG122