Minimal invasive surgery in locally advanced N2 non-small cell lung cancer

Locally advanced lung cancer, defined by nodal involvement in upper mediastinal stations (N2) (stage IIIA–N2), includes a wide spectrum of patients with multiple therapeutic alternatives. Such heterogeneity is explained, at least in part, by tumor size and magnitude of mediastinal nodal involvement. In this setting, many variants can influence the prognosis, such as the specific nodal stations compromised, the burden of mediastinal disease, and the presence of skip metastasis. In the surgical field, the advent of minimally invasive techniques, including video-assisted thoracoscopic and robotic surgery, have revolutionized the management of early-stage lung cancer, but implementations of these approaches in the locally advanced setting have been erratic. This review attempts to highlight the most relevant scientific data of the surgical management of locally advanced lung cancer patients, analyzing not only the medical evidence but also the cost-effectiveness and accessibility.