Lung Scan Could Refine Surgery Risk Checks
Early-stage lung cancer patients may one day get a clearer map of lung function before surgery, based on a 30-patient pilot.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Asthma
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia tested a newer imaging method, 4D computed tomography ventilation imaging, to assess lung function before surgery in early-stage lung cancer patients. In a pilot study of 30 surgery-eligible patients, the approach performed about as accurately overall as conventional prediction methods.
Why it matters
Patients with early-stage lung cancer usually proceed to surgery unless preoperative testing shows poor lung function, so accurately gauging how well each lung works affects who can safely undergo an operation. The study suggests a scan that maps function across the lung may capture uneven lung performance that conventional methods, which assume function is evenly distributed, can miss.
This pilot study evaluated 30 surgery-eligible patients with early-stage lung cancer, comparing predictions from conventional imaging with predictions from 4DCT-ventilation months after surgery. Both approaches had similar overall accuracy, with 4DCT-ventilation performing better in patients with uneven lung function, and the researchers note that more research is needed before clinical use.
The players
Thomas Jefferson University
A Philadelphia academic medical center and research institution with a strong radiation oncology program.
The details
During a 4DCT scan, patients breathe in and out while the scanner captures real-time lung activity as a moving image. Image-processing techniques then convert that movie into a map showing which parts of the lung are working well, rather than assuming function is uniform throughout both lungs.
Timeline
Months after surgery, researchers compared the conventional and 4DCT-ventilation predictions with actual outcomes.
Health Landscape
Preoperative lung function testing for lung cancer surgery has traditionally relied on standard imaging and clinical measures that treat lung function as roughly uniform. This pilot points toward regional, function-mapping imaging as a possible refinement, though it remains an early-stage investigation.
If you are facing lung cancer surgery, it is reasonable to ask your care team how preoperative lung function is being assessed and whether advanced imaging is an option. This research is early, so any decision about testing should be made with your physician.
The takeaway
Conventional lung function tests may not capture uneven lung performance, and a newer imaging approach could eventually help refine surgical planning. Patients facing lung cancer surgery should talk with their physician about how their lung function is evaluated.
Further reading
For more on breathing and lung conditions, see our Asthma coverage in Philadelphia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Technology Networks.
