Original Article on Thoracic Surgery


Image-guided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for small ground glass opacities: a case series

Hsin-Yueh Fang, Yin-Kai Chao, Ming-Ju Hsieh, Chih-Tsung Wen, Pei-Hsuan Ho, Wei-Jiun Tang, Yun-Hen Liu

Abstract

Background: This case series demonstrated the feasibility of the image-guided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (iVATS) for localization and removal of ground glass opacities (GGOs). The procedure was performed in a hybrid operating room (OR) using C-arm cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) equipped with a laser-guided navigation system.
Methods: Between October 1st 2016 to July 31st 2017, 14 consecutive patients presenting with GGOs underwent iVATS procedure. The efficacy and safety of the procedure were assessed through a retrospective chart review.
Results: The median GGOs size was 7 mm [interquartile range (IQR): 4–10 mm] with a median depth-to-size (D-S) ratio of 1.16 (IQR: 0–2.3). All of the lesions were visible on intraoperative CBCT images and localizations were successful in all patients with a median localization time of 22 min (IQR: 16–44 min). No patient required a conversion to thoracotomy. There was no operative mortality and the median length of postoperative stay was 4 days (IQR: 3–6 days). The final pathological diagnoses were as follows: primary lung cancer (n=6), lung metastases (n=2), and benign lung lesions (n=6).
Conclusions: Our study suggests the iVATS could be a helpful tool for single-stage detection and removal of GGOs.

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