Needle/wire lung nodule localization for thoracoscopic resection.

Small lung nodules undiagnosed by percutaneous needle biopsy have traditionally gone to thoracotomy for diagnosis. We describe a technique using computed tomographic needle/wire lung localization of these nodules, to be resected using video-assisted thoracoscopy. This is less invasive and less painful than thoracotomy and provides for cost-effective definitive diagnosis.