Preoperative localization of pulmonary nodules: virtual bronchoscopic navigation vs a 4‑hook localization needle

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Medical Imaging
• Interventional Pulmonology

Background:

• Pulmonary nodule localization is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
• Virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN) and needle localization are established methods.
• Comparative efficacy data for these techniques are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and complication rates of VBN and needle localization for pulmonary nodules.
• To evaluate performance in both solitary and multiple nodule scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 223 patients undergoing VBN or needle localization.
• Data collected included localization time, accuracy, success rate, and complications.
• Patients were categorized into solitary-nodule and two-nodule groups.

Main Results:

• VBN demonstrated shorter localization times, particularly for two nodules (17.2 min vs. 26.6 min).
• Needle localization showed a closer mean distance in solitary nodules (6.2 mm vs. 8.6 mm).
• VBN group experienced significantly fewer complications, such as pneumothorax and bleeding.

Conclusions:

• Virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN) is associated with fewer complications compared to needle localization.
• VBN is more efficient for localizing two pulmonary nodules, offering reduced time and complications.
• VBN provides a safer and more effective approach for pulmonary nodule localization, especially in complex cases.