Chest
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Despite advances in precision medicine for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), biomarker testing for these therapies remains frequently underused, delayed, and inequitable. Pulmonologists often play a critical role in the initial diagnostic steps for patients with lung cancer, and previous data show variability in their knowledge and practices regarding biomarker testing. The purpose of this study is to better understand how pulmonologists view their role in lung cancer care. ⋯ This study shows that pulmonologists vary in their practices for ordering biomarkers, and many defer this responsibility to oncology. Despite the role of bronchoscopy and pulmonology societal guidelines for staging, many defer leadership of this process. Many pulmonologists lack the necessary resources and multidisciplinary infrastructure likely required to efficiently accomplish biomarker testing.
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Shortened telomere length (TL) is a genomic risk factor for fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD), but its role in clinical management is unknown. ⋯ Incorporating TL testing in ILD impacted clinical management and led to the discovery of new actionable genetic variants.