Desert Lung: Updates on Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment 2026

Desert Lung: Updates on Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment 2026 is organized by University of Arizona College of Medicine Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME) and will be held on Oct 24, 2026 at Arizona Inn, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.

Description:
We invite you to a multidisciplinary educational program designed to provide clinicians, advanced providers and trainees with the latest evidence-based advances in the screening, diagnosis, staging, and management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This comprehensive meeting brings together experts in pulmonology, thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and advanced practice care to address current standards and emerging strategies across the full continuum of lung cancer care. The program begins with a focused review of screening eligibility, incidental pulmonary nodules, and the diagnostic workup of high-risk patients, emphasizing best practices for early detection and timely staging. These sessions aim to help providers improve identification of patients who may benefit from low-dose CT screening and streamline pathways for evaluating suspicious findings. Attention then shifts to management of early-stage NSCLC, with presentations covering surgical decision-making between lobectomy and sublobar resection, the growing role of 3D imaging segmentation and artificial intelligence in treatment planning, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways, and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as a curative option for selected patients. The latter portion of the conference explores treatment advances for locoregional and metastatic NSCLC. Faculty will discuss perioperative systemic therapies, local ablative approaches, surgical strategies for oligometastatic disease, and modern radiation techniques for locally advanced presentations. These sessions are designed to equip attendees with practical updates that can be integrated into multidisciplinary treatment planning and patient-centered care. Interactive poster sessions throughout the day will highlight innovative research and clinical initiatives, while a live multidisciplinary tumor board and challenging case conference will allow attendees to apply guideline-based principles to real-world scenarios. Desert Lung CME 2026 offers a valuable opportunity for healthcare professionals to collaborate, network, and gain actionable insights that improve outcomes for patients with lung cancer.

Objectives:
At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to:

• Screen appropriate high-risk patients for lung cancer using current evidence-based eligibility criteria and low-dose CT recommendations.
• Evaluate incidental pulmonary nodules using risk-based guidelines and appropriate follow-up pathways.
• Diagnose suspected NSCLC through appropriate imaging, biopsy selection, and mediastinal staging strategies.
• Select evidence-based treatment options for patients with early-stage NSCLC, including surgery or SBRT when appropriate.
• Differentiate candidates for lobectomy, segmentectomy, and sublobar resection based on tumor and patient factors.
• Apply enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) principles to optimize perioperative lung cancer care.
• Incorporate 3D imaging, segmentation tools, and emerging AI applications into treatment planning when appropriate.
• Manage patients with locally advanced NSCLC using multidisciplinary approaches that integrate systemic therapy, radiation, and surgery.
• Treat oligometastatic NSCLC using appropriate combinations of surgery, radiation, and local ablative therapies.
• Integrate perioperative immunotherapy and targeted therapy strategies into treatment planning when indicated.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary care among pulmonology, thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and radiology teams.