Importance of Early Diagnosis and the Role of EBUS

Comprehensive biomarker testing at the time of early NSCLC diagnosis is critical because it ensures that clinicians identify actionable molecular alterations before definitive treatment plans are set. Early detection of these biomarkers can influence decisions around surgery, adjuvant therapy, and perioperative targeted or immunotherapy, ultimately improving recurrence risk, long-term survival, and overall patient outcomes. Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) plays an increasingly important role in obtaining adequate tissue for biomarker testing, offering a minimally invasive method for sampling mediastinal lymph nodes and peripheral lesions. Its benefits include improved diagnostic yield, reduced need for surgical biopsies, and safer access to difficult sites. However, limitations remain, such as variable tissue quantity, potential fragmentation of samples, and dependence on operator expertise.