Survival outcome after systematic lymphadenectomy in non-small cell lung cancer according to the latest proposed edition of the TNM system

Our study indicates that SLND does not directly impact 5-year survival rates, particularly in early-stage NSCLC. However, SLND may play a critical role in achieving accurate tumor staging, which is essential for guiding subsequent treatment strategies. Despite its utility in staging, the current staging system demonstrates variability in predicting survival outcomes, especially when considering specific N stages or nodal groups involved.