Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Treating Patients With Stage I or Stage II Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer * Stage I or II disease (T1-3, N0, M0) * T2 or T3 tumor ≤ 5 cm * No T3 tumors involving the central chest or mediastinum (only chest wall involvement allowed) * Tumor deemed technically resectable, in the opinion of an experienced thoracic surgeon, AND patient deemed "medically inoperable" * Patients with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avidity in mediastinal lymph nodes are eligible provided they are able to undergo mediastinoscopy to confirm N0 status PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2 * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 6 months after completion of study treatment Exclusion Criteria: * No history of contrast allergy * No psychological issues that would preclude the completion of study treatment PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy * No suspected nodal metastasis that cannot be falsified by mediastinoscopy (i.e., hilar or mediastinal nodes that are either fludeoxyglucose F 18 \[FDG\]-avid or measure \> 1 cm in short axis diameter on CT scan) * No tumor within or touching the proximal bronchial tree, defined as a volume of 2 cm in all directions around the proximal bronchial tree (carina, right and left main stem bronchi, right and left upper lobe bronchi, bronchus intermedius, right middle lobe bronchus, lingular bronchus, right and left lower lobe bronchi)