Lung Cancer Surgery Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Thoracotomy (Lobectomy, Sleeve Resection, Segmentectomy, Pneumonectomy), Minimally Invasive Surgeries), By End User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Others), By Region & Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.72 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.36%
Fastest Growing Segment	Segmentectomy
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 9.19 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Lung Cancer Surgery Market will grow from USD 6.72 Billion in 2025 to USD 9.19 Billion by 2031 at a 5.36% CAGR. The Global Lung Cancer Surgery Market comprises specialized surgical interventions, including lobectomy, wedge resection, and pneumonectomy, which are increasingly performed using minimally invasive techniques such as Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted systems to remove malignant tumors. The primary drivers supporting market growth include the rising global incidence of lung malignancies and the expansion of early screening initiatives, which successfully identify a higher volume of operable, early-stage cases. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2025, there were an estimated 226,650 new cases of lung cancer in the United States, underscoring the critical and sustained demand for effective therapeutic procedures.

Despite these positive indicators, the market faces a significant challenge regarding the high prevalence of late-stage diagnoses, which renders a substantial portion of patients ineligible for curative surgery. Since surgical resection is primarily indicated for localized disease, the frequent detection of lung cancer at advanced metastatic stages severely limits the addressable patient population for these interventions. Consequently, this diagnostic delay acts as a primary restraint on the expansion of surgical volumes and overall market potential globally.

Key Market Drivers

The rapid adoption of Robot-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (RATS) is fundamentally altering the procedural landscape by offering superior precision compared to traditional open thoracotomy and standard video-assisted techniques. Surgeons are increasingly utilizing robotic platforms to perform complex lobectomies and segmentectomies, benefiting from enhanced 3D high-definition visualization and improved instrument dexterity which significantly reduce postoperative recovery times and hospital stays. This technological shift is driving substantial volume growth, particularly in international markets where adoption is accelerating to meet clinical demand. According to Intuitive Surgical, October 2024, in the 'Q3 2024 Earnings Call', procedure volumes outside the United States grew by 24% year-over-year, with thoracic procedures explicitly cited as a strong contributor to this expansion alongside general surgery growth.

The rising global incidence of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) serves as the primary demographic engine for the market, creating sustained demand for curative surgical interventions. As lung cancer continues to dominate global oncology statistics, healthcare systems are under increasing pressure to expand surgical capacity for resectable tumors. According to the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer, February 2024, in the 'Global Cancer Burden 2022' press release, lung cancer remained the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, accounting for approximately 2.5 million new cases. However, the conversion of this incidence into surgical volume is heavily reliant on effective early detection initiatives. According to the American Lung Association, in 2024, only 16% of eligible candidates in the United States underwent recommended screening, indicating a significant addressable gap that, if closed, would drastically increase the number of patients eligible for life-saving resection surgeries.

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Key Market Challenges

The primary impediment identified in the market overview is the high prevalence of late-stage diagnoses, which severely restricts the pool of patients eligible for curative surgical interventions. Surgical procedures such as lobectomy and pneumonectomy are predominantly indicated for localized, early-stage disease where the tumor is confined to the lung. When a malignancy is detected at an advanced or metastatic stage, the treatment protocol typically shifts away from surgical resection toward systemic therapies like chemotherapy or immunotherapy. This biological constraint creates a hard ceiling on the addressable market volume, as a large proportion of the total incident population is medically ineligible for surgery upon initial diagnosis.

This diagnostic delay directly impacts market revenue potential by reducing the number of procedures performed relative to the total disease incidence. According to the American Lung Association, in 2024, approximately 43% of lung cancer cases in the United States were diagnosed at a late stage, a point where survival rates drop precipitously and curative surgery is rarely an option. This statistic illustrates the disconnect between rising cancer rates and surgical growth; even as incidence increases, the market for surgical devices and robotics cannot fully expand if nearly half of the patient population remains candidates for non-surgical palliative care rather than operative solutions.

Key Market Trends

The convergence of neoadjuvant and perioperative immunotherapy with surgical protocols is fundamentally reshaping resectability standards for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By administering immune checkpoint inhibitors before and after resection, surgeons can downstage tumors and eliminate micrometastases, thereby expanding the eligibility pool for curative outcomes and improving long-term prognosis. This protocol shift is supported by recent clinical evidence demonstrating that integrating systemic therapy with surgery yields superior event-free survival compared to chemotherapy and surgery alone. According to Oncology News Central, June 2025, in the 'New CheckMate 77T Data Confirm Perioperative Immunotherapy Benefit in NSCLC' article, an updated analysis of the CheckMate 77T trial revealed that the perioperative nivolumab regimen significantly improved clinical outcomes, demonstrating a hazard ratio of 0.61 favoring the treatment arm over the placebo group.

A rising preference for parenchyma-sparing segmentectomy is transforming the management of early-stage pulmonary nodules, moving away from traditional lobectomy to preserve maximal lung function. This approach is increasingly favored for small, peripheral tumors where sub-lobar resection can offer equivalent oncological control while mitigating the risk of postoperative respiratory morbidity and enhancing patient quality of life. The clinical viability of this tissue-preserving technique is reinforced by real-world survival data confirming its efficacy relative to more extensive procedures. According to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, January 2025, in the 'Anatomic Lung Resection Linked to Improved Survival for Early-Stage Lung Cancer' press release, segmentectomy demonstrated a 5-year overall survival rate of 69.6%, proving it to be a comparable and effective alternative to lobectomy for eligible early-stage patients.

Segmental Insights

Segmentectomy represents the fastest-growing segment in the global lung cancer surgery market, driven by increasing clinical preference for lung-preservation techniques. Recent validation confirms that this procedure provides effective oncological control for small, early-stage tumors while sparing more healthy tissue than standard lobectomy. This evidence has prompted the National Comprehensive Cancer Network to update guidelines, recommending sublobar resection for eligible patients. As a result, surgeons are prioritizing this method to improve post-operative quality of life, leading to a sustained rise in the adoption of segmentectomy procedures worldwide.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global lung cancer surgery market, driven by substantial healthcare expenditure and a robust clinical infrastructure. The region experiences high patient volume due to increased screening initiatives supported by the American Cancer Society, which facilitates early detection and subsequent surgical treatment. Additionally, market growth is sustained by favorable reimbursement structures from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ensuring patient access to necessary procedures. The continuous approval of medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration further strengthens the surgical ecosystem, encouraging the availability of effective treatment options.

Recent Developments

• In September 2025, Siemens Healthineers presented clinical data at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Barcelona, highlighting the efficacy of its mobile C-arm imaging system when integrated with a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform. The data, derived from a collaboration with a major university hospital, showed a significant increase in the detection of stage 1A lung cancer cases and an overall improvement in diagnostic yield for small, peripheral pulmonary nodules. The company emphasized that this integrated solution enables precise intraoperative 3D imaging, allowing clinicians to target and biopsy lesions that are difficult to access, thereby supporting earlier curative treatments.
• In May 2024, Medtronic announced the results of the VERITAS study, which compared the company’s electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy system with standard-of-care CT-guided biopsies for diagnosing lung nodules. The study findings demonstrated that the navigation-based approach met the non-inferiority endpoint for diagnostic yield while resulting in fewer complications, such as pneumothorax, compared to the CT-guided method. This research supports the use of minimally invasive navigational tools to aid in the early diagnosis and management of lung cancer, facilitating safer pathways for patients potentially requiring subsequent surgical intervention.
• In March 2024, Intuitive Surgical announced that it had received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its fifth-generation robotic surgical system. The new platform introduces force-sensing technology, which allows surgeons to feel subtle forces exerted on tissue during procedures, a capability designed to reduce tissue trauma. The system also features improved 3D imaging and significantly increased computing power compared to previous generations. The company indicated that the system would initially be available to a limited number of customers before a broader commercial rollout, targeting procedures such as those in thoracic surgery.
• In January 2024, Olympus Corporation announced the full market availability of its new surgical energy platform, which was subsequently showcased at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons annual meeting. The system is designed to support standardizing and consolidating electrosurgical generator fleets across multiple specialties, including thoracic surgery. The platform incorporates advanced energy applications such as ultrasonic dissection and hybrid energy, aiming to improve efficiency in operating rooms. The company highlighted that the system enables the use of various energy devices from a single generator, providing faster sealing times for specific instruments used in complex surgical procedures.

Key Market Players

• Intuitive Surgical
• Medtronic
• Ethicon
• Stryker
• Karl Storz
• Olympus
• Richard Wolf
• Microsurgical Systems
• ConMed
• Zimmer Biomet

By Type	By End User	By Region
Thoracotomy (Lobectomy, Sleeve Resection, Segmentectomy, Pneumonectomy) Minimally Invasive Surgeries	Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centers Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Lung Cancer Surgery Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Lung Cancer Surgery Market, By Type:

• Thoracotomy (Lobectomy, Sleeve Resection, Segmentectomy, Pneumonectomy)
• Minimally Invasive Surgeries

• Lung Cancer Surgery Market, By End User:

• Hospitals
• Ambulatory Surgical Centers
• Others

• Lung Cancer Surgery Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE