Diagnosis & Treatment of Lung & Thoracic Cancers

Staging Protocol

At the core of MUSC Health's Lung and Thoracic Cancer Program is our in-depth staging protocol, which determines the stage of the patient's cancer and the optimal treatment.

Diagnostic staging procedures used include:

CT and PET scans
Endobronchial ultrasound
Esophageal ultrasound
Thoracoscopy
Mediastinoscopy
Interventional pulmonology
Interventional radiology

For lung cancer patients, staging determines:

Tumor size
Invasion of surrounding structures
Involvement of lymph nodes
Spread of the cancer to other sites

For esophageal cancer patients, staging determines:

Depth of tumor invasion
Involvement of surrounding structures
Involvement of regional lymph nodes
Spread of the cancer to other sites

National Recognition in Lung Cancer Surgery

MUSC Health is ranked High Performing in Lung Cancer Surgery in the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report assessments. This distinction affirms our excellence in thoracic oncology, reflecting strong surgical outcomes, advanced minimally invasive techniques, and a multidisciplinary approach to lung and thoracic cancer care.

Molecular Profiling of Tumors

Personalized therapy with chemotherapeutic and targeted agents based on an individual patient's molecular characteristics.

Radiation Therapy

Stereotactic radiosurgery with the TrueBeam STx
PET – CT scan fusion for more accurate radiation planning
3D radiation therapy
TomoTherapy – a treatment that uses a CT scanner while providing radiation therapy
High-dose radiation therapy for early stage tumors in inoperable places
Brachytherapy – radioactive seeds are placed to selectively treat the tumor while sparing healthy surrounding tissue

Medical Oncology

Options may include chemotherapy after surgery and targeted therapies for medical treatment of lung cancer.

Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery is designed to reduce tissue damage and post-surgical pain while promoting a faster recovery. Included in our minimally invasive surgery techniques is video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). MUSC Hollings Cancer Center is one of only a few centers in the Southeast using the VATS technique in a large percentage of cases.