Preoperative Pulmonary Nodule Localization Methods:A Comparison of Microcoil and Sclerosing Agent

Background and objective Small pulmonary nodules are usually difficult to identify during thoraco-scopic resection, and preoperative computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous puncture assisted localization can be helpful. The purpose of this study is to compare the localization effect and complication rates of two different methods by microcoil placement and sclerosing agent injection (Lauromacrogol). Methods A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 371 patients with preoperative pulmonary nodules percutane us puncture localization was performed. According to the use of different materials, they were divided into the microcoil group (167 cases with 196 localized nodules ) and the sclerosing agent group (204 cases with 239 localized nodules). The localization effect, complication, pathological results and operation relates data were statistically analyzed. Results The localization failure rate (2.4%) was higher in the microcoil group than in the sclerosing agent group (0.5%) (P=0.011), and the localization time of sclerosing agent group was significantly shorter than the microcoil group [(18.78±6.91) min vs (11.99±3.77) min, P=0.000], but the distance between the selected localized nodules and the pleura was deeper in the microcoil group than in the sclerosing agent group [(9.59±8.62) mm vs (8.13±6.49)mm, P=0.002]. The overall complications in the microcoil group were significantly higher than those in the sclerosing agent group (P=0.000), in which pneumothorax was the most common. Through the analysis of related risk factors, we revealed that different positioning methods was independent risk factors. Wedge resection was the main type of surgical method and non-invasive carcinomas were the majority of postoperative pathological results. Conclusion Our study suggests that both microcoil placement and sclerosing agent injection are suitable for preoperative pulmonary nodule localization equivalently, however, compared with microcoils placement, injection of lauromacrogol, the sclerosing agent, had lower failure rate, less complications, shorter localization time and it is worthy of promotion also by easy operation and low cost.