ObjectiveTo explore the safety and effectiveness of a precise marking method based on body surface mesh and three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 22 patients in our hospital from October 2018 to October 2019. There were 13 males and 9 females aged 58.5 (37-72) years. All patients underwent a precise marking of pulmonary nodules based on body surface mesh and 3D image reconstruction. Then, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed to resect the nodules. The clinical data, including positioning success rate and operation time were analyzed.ResultsA total of 22 small pulmonary nodules were removed. The average diameter of small nodules was 12±3 mm, and the average distance from the visceral pleura was 17±6 mm. The localization success rate was 86.4%. The operation time was 110±43 min, and there was no surgery-related complication.ConclusionThe method of marking pulmonary nodules based on body surface mesh and 3D image reconstruction is a safe and reliable technology, which reduces the risk of hemopneumothorax caused by CT-guided lung puncture.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness and safety of preoperative lung localization by microcoil and anchor with scaled suture.MethodsA total of 286 patients underwent CT-guided puncture localization consecutively between October 2019 and December 2020 in our hospital. According to the different methods of localization, they were divided into a microcoil group (n=139, including 49 males and 90 females, aged 57.92±10.51 years) and an anchor group (n=147, including 53 males and 94 females, aged 56.68±11.31 years). The clinical data of the patients were compared.ResultsA total of 173 nodules were localized in the microcoil group, and 169 nodules in the anchor group. The localization success rate was similar in the two groups. However, the anchor group was significantly better than the microcoil group in the localization time (8.15±2.55 min vs. 9.53±3.08 min, P=0.001), the pathological receiving time (30.46±14.41 min vs. 34.96±19.75 min, P=0.029), and the hemoptysis rate (10.7% vs. 30.1%, P=0.001), but the pneumothorax rate was higher in the anchor group (21.3% vs. 11.0%, P=0.006).ConclusionPreoperative localization of small pulmonary nodules using anchor with suture is practical and safe. Due to its simplicity and convenience, it is worth of promotion in the clinic.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of using magnetic beads to locate small pulmonary nodules.MethodsTwelve rabbits were randomly divided into two groups, 6 in each group. One group underwent thoracotomy after anesthesia and the other group underwent percutaneous puncture under the guidance of X-ray. One and two cylindrical tracer magnets (magnetic beads) with a diameter of 1 mm and a height of 3 mm were injected adjacent to the imaginary pulmonary nodules in left lung in each group. The magnetic beads beside the imaginary nodules were attracted by a pursuit magnet with a diameter of 9 mm and a height of 19 mm. The effectiveness of localization by magnetic beads were determined by attraction between tracer and pursuit magnets.ResultsAll processes were uneven in 12 rabbits. There was micro hemorrhage and no hematoma in the lung tissue at the injection site of the magnetic beads. When tracked with the pursuit magnets, there was one bead divorce in cases that one bead was injected, but no migration or divorce of the magnetic beads in cases that two magnetic beads were simultaneously injected to localize the small pulmonary nodules.ConclusionThe feasibility of using magnetic beads to locate small pulmonary nodules has been preliminarily verified.
The precise localization of pulmonary nodules has become an important technical key point in the treatment of pulmonary nodules by thoracoscopic surgery, which is a guarantee for safe margin and avoiding removal of too much normal lung parenchyma. With the development of medical technology and equipment, the methods of locating pulmonary nodules are also becoming less trauma and convenience. There are currently a number of methods applied to the preoperative or intraoperative localization of pulmonary nodules, including preoperative percutaneous puncture localization, preoperative transbronchial localization, intraoperative palpation localization, intraoperative ultrasound localization, and localization according to anatomy. The most appropriate localization method should be selected according to the location of the nodule, available equipment, and surgeon’s experience. According to the published literatures, we have sorted out a variety of different theories and methods of localization of pulmonary nodules in this article, summarizing their advantages and disadvantages for references.
Objective To analyze risk factors of malignancy in patients with small pulmonary nodules （diameter ≤2 cm） using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression，and establish a mathematical prediction model to estimatethe probability of malignancy. Methods Clinical data of 147 patients with small pulmonary nodules who underwentsurgical resection with definite postoperative pathological diagnosis from January 2005 to September 2012 in the 161st Central Hospital of PLA were retrospectively analyzed. There were 84 male and 63 female patients with their age of 31-78（56.2±10.1） years. Univariate analysis using Chi-square test or t test was performed to analyze risk factors including patientage，gender，symptoms，history and quantity of smoking，history of heavy drinking，history of tumor，tumor site，diameter，lobulation，spiculation，pleural indentation，ground-glass opacity，cavity，enlarged hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes.Independent predictors of malignancy were screened with multivariate logistic regression analysis. A mathematical predictionmodel was built to estimate the probability of malignancy and then examined. Results Univariate analysis showed that there was statistical difference in patient age（t=7.146，P＜0.001），heavy smoking history（χ2=6.169，P=0.013），nodule diameter（t=3.375，P=0.001），spiculation（χ2=5.609，P=0.018），lobulation（χ2=5.675，P=0.017），and pleural indentation（χ2=12.994，P＜0.001）between benign and malignant small pulmonary nodule groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patient age （OR=1.110，P=0.000），nodule diameter （OR=2.050，P=0.029），lobulation （OR=1.672，P=0.045），spiculation（OR=2.054，P=0.032） and pleural indentation（OR=4.090，P=0.024）were independent predictors of malignancy in patients with small pulmonary nodules （P＜0.05） . The mathematical prediction model to estimate the probability of malignancy was：Logit （P） =ez/ （1 ＋ ez），Z=-6.657 ＋ （0.104×age） ＋ （0.718×diameter） ＋ （0.720×spiculation） ＋（0.514×lobulation） ＋ （1.409×pleural indentation），and e was natural logarithm. Both Hosmer-Lemeshow test （χ2=1.802，P=0.986） and maximum likelihood ratio test （Cox-Snell R2=0.310，Nagelkerke R2=0.443） showed satisfactory goodness of fit. The diagnostic accuracy was 85.71%，sensitivity was 87.50%，specificity was 81.40%，positive predictive value was 91.92%，and negative predictive value was 72.92% when the cut-off value was 0.58. Conclusions Patient age，nodule diameter，spiculation，lobulation and pleural indentation are independent predictors of malignancy in patients with small pulmonary nodules. The mathematical prediction model can accurately estimate the probability of malignancy for patients with small pulmonary nodules.
ObjectiveTo explore and analyze the risk factors of pleural invasion in patients with small nodular type stage ⅠA pulmonary adenocarcinoma.MethodsFrom June 2016 to December 2017, 168 patients with small nodular type stage ⅠA pulmonary adenocarcinoma underwent surgical resection in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. There were 59 males and 109 females aged 58.7±11.5 years ranging from 28 to 83 years. The clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. Single factor Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the independent risk factors of pleural invasion.ResultsAmong 168 patients, 20 (11.9%) were pathologically confirmed with pleural invasion and 148 (88.1%) with no pleural invasion. Single factor analysis revealed significant differences (P<0.05) in nodule size, nodule status, pathological type, relation of lesion to pleura (RLP), distance of lesion to pleura (DLP), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation between patients with and without pleural invasion in stage ⅠA pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that significant differences of nodule size, nodule status, RLP, DLP and EGFR mutation existed between the two groups (P<0.05), which were independent risk factors for pleural invasion.ConclusionImageological-pathological-biological characteristics of patients with small nodular type stage ⅠA pulmonary adenocarcinoma are closely related to pleural invasion. The possibility of pleural invasion should be evaluated by combining these parameters in clinical diagnosis and treatment.
How to accurately locate pulmonary nodules in thoracic surgery is a key challenge in surgery. "Chinese expert consensus on preoperative assisted positioning technology of small pulmonary nodules (2025 edition)" (hereafter referred to as the consensus) is an update version incorporating the latest evidence and clinical practice based on the 2019 edition, aiming to provide reference for clinical practice. The consensus summarizes commonly used preoperative assisted positioning technologies, such as percutaneous lung puncture positioning (Hookwire positioning needles, metal spring coils, etc.), transbronchial puncture positioning (electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopes, etc.), and virtual reality and 3D printing positioning, and introduces the application indications, operating specifications and potential complications of different positioning technologies, analyzes the existing technical advantages and shortcomings, and emphasizes the selection of the most appropriate positioning method according to the specific situation of the patient, so as to improve the success rate and safety of the surgery, and promotes the minimally invasive and precise development of thoracic surgery.