Is There a Role for VATS Sleeve Lobectomy in Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and continues to be the leading cause of death for both men and women, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 85% of all lung cancer cases. Once a lung mass is visualized on imaging, accurate staging is required for determination of treatment options and, when possible, surgical resection is recommended as it has been proven to have the best survival rates versus non-surgical treatment. If a patient has advanced or metastatic disease, therapeutic options include chemotherapy and radiation, while immunotherapy and specific agents that target tumor mutations are only recommended for appropriate candidates. Additionally, surgical options differ based on whether the tumor is peripherally or centrally located in the lung parenchyma. This article will review relevant literature concerning current surgical techniques for resection of centrally located NSCLC using thoracotomy and will emphasize the benefits and challenges of a video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) approach.