Abstract： Objective To explore the approach of clinical diagnosis and treatment strategy for patients with small pulmonary nodules （SPN）≤ 1.0 cm in size on CT. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 39 patients with SPN less than 1.0 cm in size who underwent lung resection at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2005 to June 2011. There were 23 males and 16 females. Their age ranged from 31-74 （51.0±7.4） years. Nine patients had cough and sputum and other patients had no symptom. All the patients were found to have SPN less than 1.0（0.8±0.1）cm in size but not associated with hilum and mediastinal lymphadenectasis in chest CT and X-ray. The results of their sputum cytology and electronic bronchoscope were all negative. All the patients had no histologic evidence and underwent pulmonary function test prior to operation. Eleven patients had positron emission tomography/computer tomography （PET/CT）or single-photon emission computed tomography （SPECT）which was all negative. Thirteen patients underwent video-assisted minithoracotomy（VAMT） and 26 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS）. Results The average operation time was 121.0±48.0 min. Patients after partial lung resection were discharged 4～5 d postoperatively, and patients after lobectomy were discharged 7 d postoperatively. All the patients had no postoperative complications. Twenty one patients were identified as lung malignancy by postoperative pathology, including 9 patients with adenocarcinoma, 7 patients with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, 1 patient with small cell lung carcinoma, and 4 patients with pulmonary metastasis. Eighteen patients had benign lesions including 4 patients with sclerosing hemangioma, 4 patients with inflammatory pseudotumor, 2 patients with pneumonia, 3 patients with granuloma, 2 patients with tuberculosis, and 3 patients with pulmonary lymph node hyperplasia. The SPN were located in left upper lobe in 11 patients, left lower lobe in 6 patients, right upper lobe in 14 patients, right middle lobe in 1 patient, and right lower lobe in 7 patients. Conclusion The diagnosis of SPN ≤1.0 cm in size on CT should consider malignance in the first step to avoid treatment delay. Patients may have a 3-month observation period to receive selective antibiotic treatment, chest CT and X-ray review after 2 to 4 weeks. CT- guided hook-wire fixation is useful to help in precise lesion localization for surgical resection. VATS and VAMT are common and effective methods for the diagnosis and treatment for SPN.
Objective To explore the diagnostic and treatment value of computed tomography (CT)-guided embolization coil localization of pulmonary nodules accurately resected under the thoracoscope. Methods Between October 2015 and October 2016, 40 patients with undiagnosed nodules of 15 mm or less were randomly divided into a no localization group (n=20, 11 males and 9 females with an average age of 60.50±8.27 years) or preoperative coil localization group (n=20, 12 males and 8 females with an average age of 61.35±8.47 years). Coils were placed with the distal end deep to the nodule and the superficial end coiled on the visceral pleural surface with subsequent visualization by video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS). Nodules were removed by VATS wedge excision using endo staplers. The tissue was sent for rapid pathological examination, and the pulmonary nodules with definitive pathology found at the first time could be defined as the exact excision. Results The age, sex, forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration, nodule size/depth were similar between two groups. The coil group had a higher rate of accurate resection (100.00% vs. 70.00%, P=0.008), less operation time to nodule excision (35.65±3.38 minvs. 44.38±11.53 min,P=0.003), and reduced stapler firings (3.25±0.85vs. 4.44±1.26,P=0.002) with no difference in total costs. Conclusion Preoperative CT-guided coil localization increases the rate of accurate resection.
ObjectiveTo explore the application value of CT-guided microcoil localization in pulmonary nodule (diameter≤15 mm) surgery.MethodsThe clinical data of 175 patients with pulmonary nodules who underwent single utility port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from August 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether CT-guided coil localization was performed before operation, they were divided into a locating group and a non-locating group. There were 84 patients (34 males, 50 females, aged 57.8±8.8 years) in the locating group and 91 patients (46 males, 45 females, aged 57.6±10.8 years) in the non-locating group. The localization success rate, localization time, incidence of complications, surgical and postoperative conditions were analyzed between the two groups.ResultsAll 84 patients in the locating group were successfully located, and localization time was 19.0±3.6 minutes. Among them, 19 (22.6%) patients had a small pneumothorax, 4 (4.8%) pulmonary hemorrhage and 2 (2.4%) coil shift; 6 (7.1%) patients had mild pain, 3 (3.6%) moderate pain and 1 (1.2%) severe pain. Sex (P=0.181), age (P=0.673), nodule location (P=0.167), nature of lesion (P=0.244), rate of conversion to thoracotomy (P=0.414), rate of disposable resection of nodules (P=0.251) and postoperative hospital stay (P=0.207) were similar between the two groups. There were significant differences in nodule size (P<0.001), nature of nodule (P<0.001), the shortest distance from nodule to pleura (P<0.001), operation time (P<0.001), lung volume by wedge resection (P=0.031), number of staplers (P<0.001) and total hospitalization costs (P<0.001) between the two groups.ConclusionCT-guided microcoil localization has the characteristics of high success rate, and is simple, practicable, effective, safe and minimally invasive. Preoperative CT-guided microcoil localization has important clinical application value for small pulmonary nodules, especially those with small size, deep location and less solid components. It can effectively shorten the operation time, reduce surgical trauma and lower hospitalization costs, which is a preoperative localization technique worthy of popularization.