Intraoperative Detection and Assessment of Lung Nodules

Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite advances in systemic therapy, the 5-year survival remains humbling at 4% to 17%. For those diagnosed early, surgical therapy can yield potentially curative results. Surgical resection remains a cornerstone of medical care. Success hinges on sound oncologic resection principles. Various techniques can be used to identify pulmonary nodules. A challenge is intraoperative assessment of the surgical specimen to confirm disease localization and ensure an R0 resection. The primary tool is frozen section. Understanding the options available enhances the arsenal of thoracic surgeons and leads to better patient care.