Comparison of the effectiveness of anchoring needles and coils in localizing multiple nodules in the lung

Recently, a new type of pulmonary nodule positioning needle has been adopted clinically. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new type of localization needles compared with coils for the simultaneous localization of multiple pulmonary nodules guided by computed tomography (CT) prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

From January 2021 to March 2022, 87 pulmonary nodules from 40 patients were localized using the new localization needle. From January 2020 to December 2020, 68 pulmonary nodules in 31 patients were localized using coils. The relative outcomes were compared.

The success rate of pulmonary nodule localization in the needle group was 97.7% while that in the coil group was 98.5%. In the needle group, the time needed to locate the first nodule was significantly shorter than in the coil group (10.9 min vs. 17.2 min, P = 0.001). Moreover, the time needed per patient was also significantly shorter for the needle group compared with the coil group (23.7 min vs. 30 min, P = 0.017). The incidence of pneumothorax in the needle group was 25.0% vs. 12.9% in the coil group (P = 0.204). The rate of pulmonary hemorrhage in the needle group was 40.0% vs. 32.3% in the coil group (P = 0.502). The success rate of VATS wedge resection was 100% in both groups.

Both disposable pulmonary nodule localization needles and coils are safe and effective for CT-guided localization of multiple pulmonary nodules of the same stage prior to VATS. However, the use of needles is time-saving compared with the use of coils. The coil localization may exhibit better safety than needle localization.