[Is minimally invasive technique suitable for surgery of lung metastases?]

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for surgery of pulmonary metastases has to be defined with respect to technical as well as oncological aspects. Peripheral lesions up to 2 cm in diameter can easily be removed by wedge resection, but anatomical resection can also be safely accomplished. Since VATS does not allow for digital palpation of lung parenchyma, complete resection of all lesions can never be guaranteed. Thus, VATS is recommended only for diagnostic and palliative procedures but not for curative intention except in randomised studies.