[An experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for an intrapulmonary needle under CT-guided marking]

A 46-year-old female visited a near hospital, complaining of repeating skin eruption with spontaneous remission. A chest X-ray and CT examinations revealed a needle in the left S6, about 5 mm in length, which was suspected of causing the eruption. She was admitted to our hospital for operation. After CT-guided marking, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed. Because the needle was too small to be palpable, we decided to respect of it with the lung surrounding the marker and clamped the lung, followed by finding the needle finally. The analysis of the removed needle showed that it contained lead and tin besides iron, nickel and chromium, which are components of stainless steel. Although dermatological examination could not reveal the relation between the needle and the eruption, it has never recurred since the operation. It is thought that CT-guided marking is very useful for resection of an intrapulmonary needle and that a foreign body should be removed for the possibility of being harmful.