Need for preoperative computed tomography-guided localization in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery pulmonary resections of metastatic pulmonary nodules.

Background: Preoperative localization of pulmonary nodules is sometimes necessary when they are too small or distant from the surface of the visceral pleura to be detected during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. This study aims to present the criteria for localization and to evaluate the accuracy of the criteria.

Methods: From April 2001 to March 2008, 178 patients with 224 nodules who underwent wedge resection of pulmonary metastatic nodules by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty-one patients (17.4%) including 35 nodules underwent thoracoscopic resection immediately after computed tomography-guided localization using hook wires. Criteria for preoperative localization were (1) maximum diameter of the nodule of 5 mm or less, (2) maximum diameter to minimum distance between the visceral pleura and inferior border of nodule of 0.5 or less, and (3) nodule with low-density image by computed tomography after chemotherapy. The accuracy of these inclusion criteria was statistically evaluated.

Results: All 224 nodules were removed by wedge resection or additional segmentectomy. Nineteen nodules (54.3%) were detected in the thoracic cavity with preoperative localization. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 11.1%, 99.5%, 66.7%, and 92.8%; 88.9%, 93.2%, 53.3%, and 99.0%; and 88.9%, 90.8%, 45.7%, and 98.9% in each preoperative finding of which a nodule met all (3 nodules), two or more (30 nodules), and one or more (35 nodules) of the three criteria, respectively.

Conclusions: This study suggests that preoperative localization should be considered before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery operation if the pulmonary nodule meets two or more of our criteria.