BACKGROUND: The development of image technology has led to increasing detection of pulmonary small nodules year by year, but the determination of their nature before operation is difficult. This clinical study aimed to investigate the necessity and feasibility of surgical resection of pulmonary small nodules through a minimally invasive approach and the operational manner of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: The clinical data of 129 cases with pulmonary small nodule of 10 mm or less in diameter were retrospectively analyzed in our hospital from December 2013 to November 2016. Thin-section computed tomography (CT) was performed on all cases with 129 pulmonary small nodules. CT-guided hook-wire precise localization was performed on 21 cases. Lobectomy, wedge resection, and segmentectomy with lymph node dissection might be performed in patients according to physical condition. RESULTS: Results of the pathological examination of 37 solid pulmonary nodules (SPNs) revealed 3 primary squamous cell lung cancers, 3 invasive adenocarcinomas (IAs), 2 metastatic cancers, 2 small cell lung cancers (SCLCs), 16 hamartomas, and 12 nonspecific chronic inflammations. The results of pathological examination of 49 mixed ground glass opacities revealed 19 IAs, 6 micro invasive adenocarcinomas (MIAs), 4 adenocarcinomas in situ (AIS), 1 atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), 1 SCLC, and 18 nonspecific chronic inflammations. The results of pathological examination of 43 pure ground glass opacities revealed 19 AIS, 6 MIAs, 6 IA, 6 AAHs, and 6 nonspecific chronic inflammations. Wedge resection under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed in patients with 52 benign pulmonary small nodules. Lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection under VATS were performed in 33 patients with NSCLC. Segmentectomy with selective lymph node dissection, wedge resection, and selective lymph node dissection under VATS were performed in six patients with NSCLC. Two patients received secondary lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection under VATS because of intraoperative frozen pathologic error that happened in six cases. Two cases of N2 lymph node metastasis were found in patients with SPN of IA. CONCLUSIONS: Positive surgical treatment should be taken on patients with persistent pulmonary small nodules, especially ground glass opacity, because they have a high rate of malignant lesions. During the perioperative period, surgeons should fully inform the patients and family members that error exist in frozen pathologic results to avoid medical disputes.
BACKGROUND: The development of image technology has led to increasing detection of pulmonary small nodules year by year, but the determination of their nature before operation is difficult. This clinical study aimed to investigate the necessity and feasibility of surgical resection of pulmonary small nodules through a minimally invasive approach and the operational manner of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: The clinical data of 129 cases with pulmonary small nodule of 10 mm or less in diameter were retrospectively analyzed in our hospital from December 2013 to November 2016. Thin-section computed tomography (CT) was performed on all cases with 129 pulmonary small nodules. CT-guided hook-wire precise localization was performed on 21 cases. Lobectomy, wedge resection, and segmentectomy with lymph node dissection might be performed in patients according to physical condition. RESULTS: Results of the pathological examination of 37 solid pulmonary nodules (SPNs) revealed 3 primary squamous cell lung cancers, 3 invasive adenocarcinomas (IAs), 2 metastatic cancers, 2 small cell lung cancers (SCLCs), 16 hamartomas, and 12 nonspecific chronic inflammations. The results of pathological examination of 49 mixed ground glass opacities revealed 19 IAs, 6 micro invasive adenocarcinomas (MIAs), 4 adenocarcinomas in situ (AIS), 1 atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), 1 SCLC, and 18 nonspecific chronic inflammations. The results of pathological examination of 43 pure ground glass opacities revealed 19 AIS, 6 MIAs, 6 IA, 6 AAHs, and 6 nonspecific chronic inflammations. Wedge resection under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed in patients with 52 benign pulmonary small nodules. Lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection under VATS were performed in 33 patients with NSCLC. Segmentectomy with selective lymph node dissection, wedge resection, and selective lymph node dissection under VATS were performed in six patients with NSCLC. Two patients received secondary lobectomy and systematic lymph node dissection under VATS because of intraoperative frozen pathologic error that happened in six cases. Two cases of N2 lymph node metastasis were found in patients with SPN of IA. CONCLUSIONS: Positive surgical treatment should be taken on patients with persistent pulmonary small nodules, especially ground glass opacity, because they have a high rate of malignant lesions. During the perioperative period, surgeons should fully inform the patients and family members that error exist in frozen pathologic results to avoid medical disputes.
37个SPN病理类型分析Pathological analysis of 37 SPN49个mGGO病理类型分析Pathological analysis of 49 mGGO43个pGGO病理类型分析Pathological analysis of 43 pGGO冰冻病理误差Frozen pathological errorNSCLC共73例，其中有淋巴结病理结果的45例中，只有2例以SPN为表现的IA出现纵隔淋巴结转移，其余均未出现淋巴结转移。术后随访1个月-35个月，平均（15.1±10.2）个月，无复发及转移。