Standardized intrapulmonary lymph node dissection in lung cancer specimens: A national Colombian analysis.

Objective: In patients with non-small cell lung cancer, lymph node assessment is essential for appropriate staging. The intrapulmonary lymph nodes (IPLNs) should be considered when assigning the N stage but are infrequently evaluated in Colombian centers, resulting in understaging that may hinder optimal treatment.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of IPLN dissection in patients with clinical stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgical resection at 9 institutions in Colombia between 2021 and 2023.