[Modified trapdoor thoracotomy for lung cancer invading the distal border of the innominate vein]

A 62-year-old woman suffering from lung cancer of the left upper lobe has a tumor invaded the distal border of the left innominate vein. We resected the vein through trapdoor thoractomy combined with resection of the first rib, followed by a left upper lobectomy through posterolateral thoracotomy. Trapdoor thoracotomy combined with first rib resectioning thus proved useful to resect lung cancer invading the distal border of the innominate vein.