Conflicts of Interest: Both authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-21-1080/coif). The series “Thoracic Surgery Worldwide” was commissioned by the editorial office without any funding or sponsorship. Outside this work, EL reports personal fees from Abbott Molecular, personal fees from Glaxo Smith Kline, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Norvatis, personal fees from Medtronic/Covidien, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Lily Oncology, grants and personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, grants and personal fees from Medela, grants and personal fees from ScreenCell, personal fees from Johnson and Johnson/Ethicon, grants from Clearbridge Biomedics, grants from Illumina, grants from Guardant Health, grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca, personal fees from BMS, outside the submitted work; in addition, EL has a patent P52435GB issued to Imperial Innovations, and a patent P57988GB issued to Imperial Innovations and CI for VIOLET NIHR HTA (13/04/03), CI for MARS 2 NIHR HTA (15/188/31), CI for RAMON NIHR HTA (131306). Founder of My Cancer Companion and Healthcare Companion Ltd. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare.