• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2023

Background: The number of patients with incidentally identified pulmonary nodules is increasing. This study attempted to confirm the usefulness and safety of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) core needle biopsy of pulmonary nodules. Methods: Data from 18 patients diagnosed with pulmonary nodules who underwent VATS core need biopsy were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 18 patients, 15 had malignancies (primary lung cancer, n=14; metastatic lung cancer, n=1), and 3 had benign nodules. Mortality and pleural metastasis did not occur during the follow-up period. Conclusion: In patients with solitary pulmonary nodules that require tissue confirmation, computed tomography-guided percutaneous cutting needle biopsy or diagnostic pulmonary resection sometimes may not be feasible choices due to the location of the solitary pulmonary nodule or the patient's impaired pulmonary function, VATS core needle biopsy may be performed in these patients as an alternative method.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.425-435
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• 1989

The solitary pulmonary nodule is considered as a round or ovoid lesion with sharp, circumscribed borders, surrounded by normal appearing lung parenchyme on all sides, and found on a simple chest X-ray without any particular symptoms or signs. There is a wide spectrum of pathologic conditions in the solitary pulmonary nodules prove to be malignant tumors, either primary or metastatic. Most Benign granulomas and other benign conditions can also be seen as solitary nodules. The resection of solitary malignant nodules results in a surprisingly high 5-year survival rate. On the contrary, most benign nodules do not need to be resected and a period of prolonged observation and nonsurgical management is usually indicated. Therefore, the best approach to the controversial management of solitary pulmonary nodules depends on finding factors affecting the probability of malignancy. In this article, clinical records and chest roentgenographies of 60 patients operated on over the past 8 years at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital were reviewed. There were 15 malignant nodules and 45 benign nodules and the prevalence of malignancy was 25%. The most common pathologic entity was tuberculoma [21 cases]. The mean age was 55.5*9.6 years in the malignant group, 45.8>12.5 years in the benign group and there was a significant statistical difference between the two groups [P < 0.05]. The malignant ratio in each age group increased with advancing age. The average smoking amount was 35.6*12.9 cigarettes per day in malignant smokers, 20.9* 12.0 cigarettes per day in benign smokers, and there was a significant statistical difference between the two groups [p< 0.05]. The malignant ratio also increased with the increasing smoking amount. Comparing the appearance of the nodule on chest films, 6 calcifications and 7 cavitations were found only in benign nodules, not in malignant nodules. Therefore, calcification and cavitation can be considered as preferential findings for benignity. Previous cancer history was also a significant factor deciding the prognosis of the nodule [p< 0.05]. The average diameter on chest X-ray was 3.07*0.82 cm in malignant nodules, 3.25*1.04 cm in benign nodules and there was no significant statistical difference between the two groups [p< 0.05]. The author used Bayes theorem to develop a simple method for combining individual clinical or radiological factors of patients with solitary nodules into an overall estimate of the probability that the nodule is malignant. In conclusion, patient age, smoking amount, appearance of nodule on chest film such as calcification and cavitation, and previous cancer history were found to be strongly associated with malignancy, but size of nodule was not associated with malignancy. Since these prognostic factors have been found retrospectively, prospective controlled studies are needed to determine whether these factors have really prognostic significance.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 1990

The authors conducted a clinical observation of 55 cases of solitary pulmonary nodules at Yeungnam University Hospital from June 1986 to October 1990, and the following results were obtained : 1. The age distribution was ranged from 18 to 77 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.8:1. 2. Among 55 cases of nodules, 28 cases were benign and 27 cases were malignant nodules, and of malignant nodules, the primary lung cancer was 23 cases and of benign nodules, 18 cases were tuberculoma. 3. 23 cases (41.8%) was asymptomatic and the other 32 cases were symptomatic; chest pain 12 cases, hemoptysis; 8 cases, cough; 8 cases and dyspnea; 4 cases. 4. The non-smoker-to-smoker ratio was 1:1.04, but among 23 smoker over 20 pack years, 14 cases were malignant nodules. 5. According to nodular size, there is no striking differences between benign and malignant nodules except 3-4cm sized nodules. 6. The lobar distribution of nodules, 35 cases were in the right lung (upper lobe; 14 cases, middle lobe; 11 cases, and lower lobe; 10 cases) and 20 cases were in the left lung(upper lobe; 9 cases, lower lobe; 11 cases), and the malignant nodules were most commonly observed in the right upper lung.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.435-439
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• 1994

Lung cancer is the most common fatal malignant lesion in both sexes. Detection of the solitary pulmonary nodule is important because surgical series up to a third of solitary pulmonary nodules are bronchogenic carcinoma. Bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma is a rare primary lung cancer and surgery is treatment of choice in brochioloalveolar cell carcinoma. We experinced a case of bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma in solitary pulmonary nodule with cavitary lesion in chest CT scan, which is an uncommon finding in brochioloalveolar cell carcinoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 1992

Gestational choriocarcinoma is a highly malignant tumor which arises from the trophoblast of human pregnancy. This tumor develops early pulmonary metastasis and the most common pattern of pulmonary metastasis is discrete multiple nodules. But occasionally solitary pulmonary metastasis occurs. Authors presented three cases of choriocarcinoma presented with different types of solitary pulmonary metastases with review of literatures. We emphasize the importance of careful obstetric history taking and screening of serum gonadotropin level in differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary lesion especially among women who are from areas of high prevalence of trophoblastic neoplasia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.498-506
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• 1999

Background : The causes of solitary pulmonary nodule are many, but the main concern is whether the nodule is benign or malignant. Because a solitary pulmonary nodule is the initial manifestation of the majority of lung cancer, accurate clinical and radiologic interpretation is important. Bayes' theorem is a simple method of combining clinical and radiologic findings to estimate the probability that a nodule in an individual patients is malignant. We estimated the probability of malignancy of solitary pulmonary nodules with a specific combination of features by Bayesian approach. Method : One hundred and eighty patients with solitary pulmonary nodules were identified from multi-center analysis. The hospital records of these patients were reviewed and patient age, smoking history, original radiologic findings, and diagnosis of the solitary pulmonary nodules were recorded. The diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule was established pathologically in all patients. We used to Bayes' theorem to devise a simple scheme for estimating the likelihood that a solitary pulmonary nodule is malignant based on radiological and clinical characteristics. Results : In patients characteristics, the probability of malignancy increases with advancing age, peaking in patients older than 66 year of age(LR : 3.64), and higher in patients with smoking history more than 46 pack years(LR : 8.38). In radiological features, the likelihood ratios were increased with increasing size of the nodule and nodule with lobulated or spiculated margin. Conclusion : In conclusion, the likelihood ratios of malignancy may improve the accuracy of the probability of malignancy, and can be a guide of management of solitary pulmonary nodule.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1185-1191
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• 1991

The clinical and pathological analysis of solitary pulmonary nodules were estimated in 35 patients with nodules who were surgically resected at the Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Chonnam National University Hospital from July 1978 to Aug. 1989. The results were as follows: 1. Mean age of patients was 43.5 years extending from 11 years to fi7 years old and male to female ratio was 6: l. 2. Preoperative symptoms were complained of dull pain in the chest, cough, hemoptysis and general weakness in 69% of patients. 3. The histopathologic findings of surgically resected nodules showed benign nodule in 51% and malignancy 49%. The most frequent diseases were granuloma[67%] in benign nodules and squamous cell carcinoma[76%] in malignancy. In topographical region of nodules in the lung, benign granuloma was more prevalent in upper lobes, while malignancy was slightly more frequent in lower lobes. 4. The incidence of malignancy by age was extremely rare in patients with less than 35 years old, but in greater than 35 years of age, malignancy comprised up to 67% of patients. 5. Complications of thoracotomy were minor bleedings, wound infections and chest pain not to be required any reoperation except one patient died of sudden onset of arrhythmia after pneumonectomy.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1124-1131
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of CT-guided microcoil localization of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) for guiding video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Materials and Methods: Between June 2016 and October 2019, 454 consecutive patients with 501 SPNs who received CT-guided microcoil localization before VATS in our institution were enrolled. The diameter of the nodules was 0.93 ± 0.49 cm, and the shortest distance from the nodules to the pleura was 1.41 ± 0.95 cm. The distal end of the microcoil was placed less than 1 cm away from the nodule, and the proximal end was placed outside the visceral pleura. VATS was performed under the guidance of implanted microcoils without the aid of intraoperative fluoroscopy. Results: All 501 nodules were marked with microcoils. The time required for microcoil localization was 12.8 ± 5.2 minutes. Microcoil localization-related complications occurred in 179 cases (39.4%). None of the complications required treatment. A total of 463 nodules were successfully resected under the guidance of implanted microcoils. VATS revealed 38 patients with dislocated microcoils, of which 28 underwent wedge resection (21 cases under the guidance of the bleeding points of pleural puncture, 7 cases through palpation), 5 underwent direct lobectomy, and the remaining 5 underwent a conversion to thoracotomy. In 4 cases, a portion of the microcoil remained in the lung parenchyma. Conclusion: CT-guided microcoil localization of SPNs is safe and reliable. Marking the nodule and pleura simultaneously with microcoils can effectively guide the resection of SPNs using VATS without the aid of intraoperative fluoroscopy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.943-951
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• 2003

We are now detecting an increasing number of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) that are difficult to diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the useful radiologic findings for differentiating benign from malignant pulmonary nodules. Material and Method: The high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of SPNs smaller than 3 cm in largest diameter were evaluated in 134 patients with malignant and benign nodules in regard to internal structures, margin characteristics, and surrounding parenchymal responses. Result: The nodules with the area of ground-glass attenuation (GGA) greater then 50% were noted in adenocarcinoma, inflammatory lesions and some of metastatic tumors, and the lesions greater than 90% were noted only in adenocarcinoma. The area of GGA in non-adenocarcinoma, benign tumors and tuberculomas were less than 50%, and mainly less than 10%. The findings of air bronchogram, spiculation, lobulation, vascular involvement, and pleural indentation were some noted at every types of malignant tumors, but especially high over than 30% in adenocarcinomas. Conclusion: Most peripheral lung adenocarcinomas form a characteristic radiologic findings especially in HRCT. Evaluation of these findings would be helpful in differentiating between lung cancer, especially adenocarcinoma, and other lesions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 1996

Background : Clinical and Radiographic studies to differentiate benign from malignant pulmonary nodules have previously focused on clinical status and the morphologic and the computed tomographic attenuation characteristics of the lung nodules. Distinctive differences in the vascularity and pathophysiology of malignant versus benign pulmonary nodules were identified. We evaluated the diagnostic method for differentiating malignant from benign solitary pulmonary nodule by contrast enhancement on the spiral CT. Method : Sixteen patients with solitary pulmonary nodule were examined(Tuberculoma 8, primary lung cancer 8). Serial thin section on the spiral CT was performed before and after(45second, 2min, 5min) the onset of the injection of 100mL of nonionic contrast material(2mL/sec). Results : There was no difference in size of nodule and pre-contrast CT number (Hounsfield unit) between benign and malignant nodules. At forty-five second after the onset of the injection, malignant neoplasms($19.6{\pm}7.9$ HU) enhanced significantly more than tuberculomas($4.9{\pm}9.4$ HU, p=0.008). At 2minute and 5 minute after, malignant neoplasms($34.0{\pm}19.2$HU, $34.0{\pm}15.4$HU) enhanced significantly more than tuberculomas ($6.7{\pm}9.7$HU, p=0.007 and $7.7{\pm}11.5$HU, p=0.011). On cut-off value 20HU(contrast enhancement) 2minute after the injection of contrast media, sensitivity was 87% and specificity was 87%. No correlation between the contrast enhancement and size of the nodules was observed. Conclusion : Studies with the use of an intravenously administered noniodinated contrast medium in examining the enhancement properties of lung nodules was performed. The contrast enhancement was useful in differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules.