title: Management of the solitary pulmonary nodule: role of thoracoscopy in diagnosis and therapy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Jaklitsch
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mentzer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lukanich
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sugarbaker
mesh_terms: 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