Pulmonary coin lesions: a ten-year review of 239 cases

The results of a study of 239 resected solitary pulmonary nodules are presented; 66.5% of the resected nodules were malignant, and there were three patients with malignant coin lesions who were under 30 years of age. These findings confirm the generally accepted fact that most solitary pulmonary nodules must be resected if the presence of cancer is to be excluded. Transbronchial biopsy under biplane fluoroscopic guidance through a flexible bronchoscope may provide an effective alternative to early thoracotomy in the future, so that malignant nodules can be diagnosed before operation and patients with benign lesions are spared a thoracotomy.