THE ROLE OF THORACOSCOPY IN LUNG-CANCER MANAGEMENT

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has enabled more complex proced ures previously requiring thoracotomy to be accomplished in lung cance r management. VATS today can be employed in the evaluation of idiopath ic (and known) malignant pleural effusions, mediastinal adenopathy, in determinate pulmonary nodules, and compromise resection and lobectomy of peripheral stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Thus, VATS is becomi ng an accepted approach to a variety of intrathoracic problems, althou gh its absolute indications for patients with lung cancer have yet to be firmly defined. This article reviews the authors' current experienc e with VATS procedures in the treatment of patients with lung cancer.