How Big Has the Tumor Grown?

​The doctor determines this by looking at your CT scan. Many times when the tumor is so large that it is "kissing" other vital structures, the CT scan may not be exact enough to determine invasion. This information is of primary importance for the surgeon to determine whether the cancer can be removed. Other tests that determine the tumor growth is bronchoscopy. This can tell whether the tumor has invaded a part of the windpipe that is hard to remove. Another test to determine whether there has been spread is to sample any fluid that accumulates between the ribs and the lung to see if there may be tumor cells in that fluid.

Sometimes the tumor may spread freely in the space between the lung and the ribs and using thoracoscopy this spread can be diagnosed.