Admission of a patient with lung cancer to the intensive care unit (ICU) can be controversial because of the poor long-term survival for many of the patients. Roques et al identified factors associated with hospital and 6-month mortality that can help to decide if a particular patient should be admitted to the ICU. The authors are from the Hopital Tenon, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris and Universite Pierre et Marie Curie.