Figure 1

A clinical pathway to guide the selection of optimal and subsequent diagnostic tests. The optimal diagnostic tests in the first grey column were selected depending on the features of chest lesions in the corresponding line of the previous column. The subsequent diagnostic tests in the second grey column were selected depending on the findings of optimal diagnostic tests. EBUS-TBNA endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy, TTCB transthoracic core biopsy, CNB cutting needle biopsy, VATS video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.