title: Ultrasonographic identification of peripheral pulmonary nodules through uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An intrinsic limitation of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) resides in the impossibility to palpate the lung to identify embedded nodules. We wanted to investigate the use of intraoperative ultrasonography to detect pulmonary nodules during uniportal VATS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe our initial experience with the identification of peripheral pulmonary nodules with an articulating ultrasound probe introduced through a single VATS incision. The instrument was used in 2 patients with solitary pulmonary nodules and previous history of extrathoracic cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lung nodules were identified by the articulating probe and resected on wide tumor-free margins through uniportal VATS. Subsequent lung palpation through minithoracotomy confirmed the absence of additional lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraoperative ultrasound scanning of the lung with an articulating probe can be successfully used through uniportal VATS to identify peripheral nodules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology, Division of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Institute, Pascale Foundation, Naples, Italy. gaetano.rocco@btopenworld.com
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rocco
authors.forename: Marcellino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cicalese
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Manna
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Rocca
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martucci
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salvi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D013848:Thigh; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020708:Thoracoscopes; D014463:Ultrasonography