Management of the solitary pulmonary nodule: role of thoracoscopy in diagnosis and therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The solitary pulmonary nodule remains a common clinical problem. The essential question is whether the lesion is malignant or not. This discussion presents the clinical practice and looks at the problem.


METHODS
Didactic.


METHODS
Academic tertiary-care hospital.


METHODS
Prospective thoracic database.


METHODS
Minimally invasive technique.


RESULTS
The workup and treatment of the solitary pulmonary nodule is presented with particular emphasis on the role of minimally invasive techniques. A small single-institution series is referenced.


CONCLUSIONS
The approach is safe and highly effective in diagnosing and often in treating solitary pulmonary nodules.
Swanson
S J
SJ
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Jaklitsch
M T
MT
Mentzer
S J
SJ
Bueno
R
R
Lukanich
J M
JM
Sugarbaker
D J
DJ
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013906:Thoracoscopy