The diagnosis of lung cancer is becoming more
complex, with new techniques for obtaining
tissue specimens and imaging. The National
Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
(2011) recommends that the most appropriate
investigation is one that provides the most
information to enable diagnosis and staging of
the cancer, and carries the least risk of harm to
the patient. Adequate tissue samples should be
taken to enable a complete pathological diagnosis
to be made, including the type and subtype of
the tumour, and any relevant predictive markers
such as epidermal growth factor receptor
(EGFR), Kirsten rat sarcoma gene (KRAS) and
anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene.