Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 11, 2026
Electromagnetic Navigation Transthoracic Nodule Localization for Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
Published on: May 4, 2022
The Effectiveness of Robotic-assisted Navigation System for Preoperative Lung Nodule Localization: a Prospective,
Chenyuan Deng1, Yu Jiang1, Yuechun Lin1
1Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease & National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
In recent years, robots specifically designed to assist localization have been developed. Nevertheless, limited studies have systematically investigated the integration of these systems into routine clinical practice.
Methods:
This prospective, single-center, non-inferiority clinical study was conducted on patients with isolated lung nodules measuring less than 20 mm in diameter between June 2024 and December 2024. The primary outcome was the localization success rate, while secondary outcomes included procedural duration, the number of CT scans required for localization, total dose-length product (DLP), first-pass success rate, localization success rate within a single needle adjustment, and the complication rate. The current study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov.
Results:
A total of 100 patients successfully underwent CT-guided manual needle localization or robotic-assisted needle localization, and all subsequently underwent resection of pulmonary nodules via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The operative times were similar between the two groups. However, it is worth noting that the robotic-assisted navigation group demonstrated smaller deviation (median [IQR], 8.00 [6.00, 9.00] vs. 5.72 [3.07, 7.06]; p < 0.001), fewer CT scans required for localization (median [IQR], 1.00 [1.00, 2.00] vs. 1.00 [1.00, 1.00], p < 0.001), higher first-pass success rate (60% vs. 100%, p < 0.001), higher localization success rate within one needle adjustment (80% vs. 100%, p = 0.001), and lower total DLP (median [IQR], 413.50 [332.50, 496.00] vs. 248.63 [198.07, 276.47] mGy*cm; p < 0.001) compared with traditional manual localization group. Additionally, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of reported complications.
Conclusion:
The robotic-assisted navigation system demonstrated efficacy comparable to that of manual CT-guided percutaneous needle localization and may represent a novel alternative for isolated lung nodule localization.
Insights
Robotic-assisted navigation for lung nodule localization shows comparable efficacy to manual methods. This innovative system offers potential benefits, including reduced CT scans and improved first-pass success rates.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Medical Robotics
- Interventional Radiology
Background:
- Robots for localization are emerging, but clinical integration is understudied.
- Limited data exists on the systematic use of robotic systems in routine practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of robotic-assisted navigation versus manual CT-guided localization for small isolated lung nodules.
- To evaluate secondary outcomes including procedural efficiency and radiation dose.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, single-center, non-inferiority study (June-Dec 2024).
- 100 patients with isolated lung nodules (<20 mm) underwent either manual or robotic-assisted localization.
- Outcomes included localization success rate, procedure duration, CT scans, dose-length product (DLP), and complication rates.
Main Results:
- Robotic navigation showed significantly smaller deviation, fewer CT scans, higher first-pass success, and higher success within one needle adjustment.
- Lower total DLP was observed in the robotic group.
- Operative times and complication rates were similar between groups.
Conclusions:
- Robotic-assisted navigation is effective for lung nodule localization, comparable to manual CT-guided methods.
- This system presents a novel alternative for percutaneous needle localization of isolated lung nodules.
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