![[Translate to Englisch:] Korrekte Lage des entfalteten Somatex Lungenmarkersystems](uploads/pics/Bild1_03.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Somatex Spirale in Nachbarschaft zu einem Lungenrundherd")
Author: Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Karsten Krüger, Radiology Vivantes Berlin Spandau
Pulmonary nodules are a common finding on thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans. Using morphological criteria alone to positively determine if a tumour is malignant or benign is usually problematic. But recommendations such as those of the Fleischner Society [1] can help. Histological diagnosis may, however, be necessary even for small nodules. There are some limitations to using bronchoscopic or CT-guided biopsies for this purpose [2].
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive, endoscopic procedure for resecting pulmonary tumours [3, 4]. The nodule has to be viewable for this procedure to be performed, though, because there is no way to manually palpate the nodule. As a result, this technique is of limited use for pulmonary nodules which do not come in contact with the pleura. One possibility for expanding the indication for VATS is to use it for pre-operative CT-guided marking of pulmonary nodules [5-11].
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