Thoracoscopic resection of intrapulmonary lesions after CT-guided marking

Wedge resection of pulmonary lesions by means of VATS (Video-assisted thora cic surgery) to get a diagnosis for further treatment is an accepted method . However, there are problems with thoracoscopic identification of subpleur al lesions without palpation. A new method marking such lesions is presente d, the SOMATEX((R)) Marker System with a special wire combined with CT-guid ed Laser Marker System (LMS) positioning the wire. Using LMS the wire was p laced in 3 patients exactly behind the lesion without complications and no need for needle correction. In the following VATS procedure the pulmonary l esions were identified immediatly after introduction of thoracoscope withou t time consuming searching. There was no dislocation of wire during the ope ration and the tumor could be resected thoracoscopically in a parenchyma sa ving technique. Consequently, the new method could be extend the indication s of VATS.