In development
1. Lung cancer diagnostic pathway
Harmonising the pathway from suspected lung cancer or incidental imaging finding to referral, CT imaging, staging, tissue diagnosis, molecular testing, MDT review, and treatment decision.
Nordic protocols to harmonise
NTOG is identifying clinical protocol areas where Nordic collaboration may support more consistent lung cancer diagnosis, staging, treatment planning, follow-up, and quality improvement.
The topics below are working areas for harmonisation. They are intended to support discussion, collaboration, and future consensus work across Nordic countries. They do not replace national guidelines, local hospital protocols, or clinical judgment.
Status: These protocol areas are currently in development. Final documents and PDF downloads will be added after review and approval.
In development
2. Standardized care pathway timelines
Comparing and harmonising timeline targets for referral, diagnostic work-up, MDT discussion, surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, and palliative care.
In development
3. Multidisciplinary team meeting protocol
Defining which lung cancer cases should be discussed, required pre-MDT information, core specialties, documentation standards, and decision communication.
In development
4. Pulmonary nodule management
Working toward a Pan-Nordic approach to pulmonary nodule follow-up, risk assessment, radiology reporting, referral thresholds, and diagnostic pathways.
In development
5. Lung cancer screening workflow
Harmonising workflow principles for low-dose CT screening, eligibility, radiology reporting, incidental findings, smoking cessation, follow-up, and referral.
In development
6. Molecular testing protocol
Defining minimum biomarker testing principles, tissue and liquid biopsy workflows, turnaround time targets, reporting standards, and re-testing at progression.
In development
7. Stage III NSCLC work-up and treatment planning
Harmonising staging, PET/CT, brain imaging, mediastinal assessment, pulmonary function testing, surgical assessment, radiotherapy planning, and MDT decision-making.
In development
8. Small-cell lung cancer pathway
Defining Nordic principles for limited-stage and extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer work-up, staging, treatment urgency, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, and follow-up.
In development
9. Quality indicators and registry data
Identifying core Nordic lung cancer quality indicators, registry variables, staging data, MDT data, treatment timelines, treatment intent, and outcome measures.
In development
10. Patient communication templates
Developing clear patient communication templates for CT findings, pulmonary nodule follow-up, screening invitations, incidental findings, MDT decisions, and smoking cessation support.
This is a working page. Protocol topics listed here are under discussion and harmonisation within the NTOG network. Final documents will be added when available.
Future PDF downloads
When individual protocols are reviewed and approved, this page can be updated with download buttons for PDF versions.
Example future button: