Microcoil-Guided Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Excision of Nodules suspicious for Metastasis in Patients with Extra-Thoracic Malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the utility of preoperative CT-guided microcoil localization followed by fluoroscopy guided video assisted thoracoscopic resection in the diagnosis and management of small peripheral pulmonary nodules in patients with extra-thoracic malignancies.

METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data between August 2003 and September 2013. Fifty patients with extra-thoracic malignancies underwent preoperative localization of small indeterminate pulmonary nodules using CT-guided microcoil localization. Nodules were then resected by VATS wedge excision and intraoperative fluoroscopy guidance. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted.

RESULTS: Fifty patients with a history of 14 different extra-thoracic cancers (57% female, mean age 62 years) had 55 nodules resected (mean size = 12 mm, depth from visceral pleura = 22 mm). Histology of resected nodules showed metastasis (25/50 patients), benign (10/50) and (15/50) early stage primary lung cancer. Smokers were found 6 times more likely to present with primary lung cancer than metastasis (p 0.009). CT-guided microcoil localization procedure was successful in all patients with a mean time of 31 (10) minutes and allowed successful wedge resection in all cases with no major complications. The mean operative time and fluoroscopy time were 27(12) minutes and 3(5) minutes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Microcoil-guided thoracoscopic wedge resection was effective in achieving early definitive diagnosis and changed management in 50% of patients with presumed metastasis with minimal morbidity.