Identification of factors affecting the surgical margin in wedge resection using preoperative lipiodol marking

BACKGROUND: The factors affecting the surgical margin distance in resection of small lung lesions after preoperative marking are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify these factors in wedge lung resection using a localization technique. METHODS: The subjects were 45 patients with small pulmonary nodules who underwent preoperative computed tomography-guided lipiodol marking followed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery between April 2017 and December 2019. Data were obtained for nodule size, depth from the pleural surface, imaging features, and procedure-related factors that could affect the surgical margin. Subjects were divided into groups with margin distances