From the aspect of the contemporary pathologic diagnostics of lung cancer, it is a key issue of the tissue obtained since small biopsies and cytology still play a major role. In the non-small cell lung cancer era, cytology considered equal to biopsy. However, in recent years it is unable to provide quality diagnosis and must be replaced by biopsy. Various molecular techniques can handle various different tissue samples which must be considered during molecular pathology diagnosis. Besides, tumor cell-normal cell ratio in the obtained tissue as well as the absolute tumor cell number have great significance whose information must be provided in the primary lung cancer diagnosis. Last but not least, for continuous sustainable molecular diagnostics of lung cancer rational algorythms, affordable technology and appropriate reimbursement are equally necessary.

Res Unit Mol Lung and Pleura Pathology Institute of Pathology Medical University of Graz Austria ; 2 Department of Pathology Semmelweis University Budapest Molecular Oncology Research Group HAS SU Budapest Hungary ; 3 The Fingerland Department of Pathology Charles University Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital in Hradec Kralove CZ 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic ; 4 Department of Pathology Cancer Center Warsaw 02 781 Poland

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