Indications and technical details of sublobar resections for small-sized lung cancers based on tumor characteristics

Abstract

With the recent increase in small-sized lung cancers, sublobar resection and minimally invasive surgeries are becoming preferred. In particular, the detection of ground-glass nodules (GGNs) on high-resolution computed tomography has increased. Although lobectomy has been considered a standard procedure for treating lung cancer, sublobar resections have been indicated for treating GGN-dominant small-sized lung cancers. Wedge resection and segmentectomy have generally been performed as sublobar resection; however, each procedure has some technical advantages and disadvantages. Although anatomical resection as a segmentectomy is a complicated procedure, it has recently been increasingly performed with the accurate anatomical grasp using three-dimensional computed tomography and the identification of the intersegmental plane. Other procedures involving the use of newer technologies can also be performed. Individualized sublobar resection might be a suitable procedure for small-sized lung cancer with the appropriate selection of procedures based on each tumor’s characteristics and improving the methods to overcome some technical difficulties.

Keywords

Sublobar resection / ground-glass nodule / wedge resection / segmentectomy / subsegmentectomy / thoracoscopic surgery

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