Updated 7 May 2008

Patients with limited SCLC who achieve a satisfactory radiographic response of thoracic disease from combined-modality therapy do not require restaging. Repeat bronchoscopy may identify a small proportion of patients with residual disease but in the absence of a proven therapy that can convert partial responders after intensive chemoradiation to durable complete responders, the patient discomfort and additional costs mitigate against restaging bronchoscopy or imaging procedures in asymptomatic patients.

Reference:

1. Feld R, Pater J, Goodwin PJ, et al. The restaging of responding patients with limited small cell lung cancer; is it really useful? Chest 1993;103:1010.