Percutaneous Localization and Marking of Solitary Small Pulmonary Nodesunder CT Control Before Videothoracoscopic Surgery

Overview

Background.
The localization of small lung nodules by palpation is not possible when videothoracoscopic surgeryis performed. Transparietal fine needle biopsy is frequently not successful in small lung nodules.Methods and Results. The authors describe their experiences with percutaneous CT controlled marking of smalllung parenchyma around small lung nodules by patent blue and contrast medium mixture. The method was used in7 patients with nodule size from 7 mm to 25 mm. In all patients the surgeon was able to localize the nodule. Operationfollowed localization as soon as possible, the interval was from 60 to 120 minutes. Four of 7 nodules were benign,3 nodules were malignant.Conclusions. New method of marking of small lung nodules makes a minimal invasive operation possible. Theoperation stress is lower and the time of hospitalization is shorter.

Key words:
computed tomography, CT, lung nodule, biopsy, localization, thoracoscopy.