Successful diagnosis and treatment using VATS for a tiny lung carcinoma found on chest CT scan of a periodic checkup : report of a case

We report a case in which we successfully diagnosed and treated a minute lung carcinoma using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). A 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for further examination of a minute pulmonary lesion (8 × 8 mm) on a CT scan obtained at a periodic checkup. VATS biopsy of the pulmonary nodule was carried out. Frozen section examination of this nodule confirmed the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma followed by VATS lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed. VATS biopsy can be considered as an initial diagnostic procedure for minute peripheral pulmonary lesions.