A hybrid single-trocar VATS technique for extracorporeal wedge biopsy of the lingula in patients with diffuse lung disease.

Lung biopsy is the last option to obtain lung tissue for a precise diagnosis in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Several surgical techniques have been reported. The successful application of a hybrid approach is herein reported. The procedure utilizes a single-trocar video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery technique to localize and withdraw the tip of the lingula outside the chest to perform a biopsy in the diagnosis of ILDs. The advantages of this technique over other commonly used methods have also been discussed.