Quantifying the rate and predictors of occult lymph node involvement in patients with clinically node-negative non-small cell lung cancer.

This nationwide study can allow clinicians to roughly estimate the rate of occult LN disease in cN0 NSCLC. These data can also assist in guiding enrollment on randomized trials of SABR ± immunotherapy, individualizing follow-up imaging surveillance, and patient counseling to avoid post-diagnosis delays.