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LOCALIZATION OF SMALL PULMONARY NODULES FOR VIDEOTHORACOSCOPIC SURGERY
Author(s) -
Hu Jian,
Zhang Chong,
Sun Li
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2006.03790.x
Subject(s) - medicine , palpation , video assisted thoracoscopic surgery , radiology , thoracoscopy , nodule (geology) , solitary pulmonary nodule , lung , computed tomography , surgery , paleontology , biology
The aim of this study is to discuss and summarize the localization of small pulmonary nodules for videothoracoscopic surgery. Thirty‐eight patients were selected, 22 men and 16 women, and they underwent video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery resection for small pulmonary nodules: 28 patients for small solitary pulmonary nodules and 10 patients for multiple small pulmonary nodules. In all cases, resection of the nodules was successful. Localization methods included: (i) computed tomography (CT)‐guided methylene blue labelling for preoperative localization; (ii) a high‐quality chest CT scan for preoperative localization; (iii) visual exploration, digital palpation and ‘instrumental’ palpation to locate the nodule; and (iv) endosonographic inspections of intraoperative localization. Using a combination of CT scan, digital palpation, methylene blue labelling and endosonographic inspections, all nodules were successfully localized and resected without significant complications. Video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery is an effective approach but the small lung nodules (especially those less than 1.0 cm in diameter) localized at thoracoscopic resection must be treated carefully. Combined imaging and thoracoscopic techniques may help identify small nodules.