[Clinical Significance of Extranodal Extension in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Current Status and Future Prospects].

Global cancer statistics in 2022 ranked lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality worldwide, with lymph node metastasis serving as a pivotal determinant of prognosis and treatment strategy. Extranodal extension (ENE) refers to the pathological phenomenon where tumor cells breach the lymph node capsule and invade surrounding tissues. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), although ENE has not yet been formally incorporated into the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system, its clinical value is gaining increasing attention. This review systematically summarizes the current research progress regarding the definition, diagnostic approaches, prognostic significance, and treatment implications of ENE in NSCLC, analyzes existing challenges, and proposes future directions. The goal of this paper is to provide insights for optimizing clinical practice and guiding subsequent research.
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