Executive Summary of the American Radium Society® (ARS) Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Central/Ultra-Central Location: Systematic Review and Guidelines

Definitive radiation therapy is considered standard therapy for medically inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, for patients with tumors located near to structures like the proximal tracheobronchial tree, esophagus, heart, spinal cord, and brachial plexus, the optimal management regimen is controversial. The objective was to develop expert multidisciplinary consensus guidelines on the management of medically inoperable NSCLC located in a central or ultra-central location relative to critical organs-at-risk.