Localizing small lung lesions in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery via radiofrequency identification marking

Background To facilitate accurate localization of small lung lesions in thoracoscopic surgery, we employed a micro-radiofrequency identification tag designed to be delivered through the 2-mm working channel of a flexible bronchoscope. This report presents the results of preclinical studies of our novel localizing technique in a canine model. Methods To evaluate functional placement, three types of tags [Group A, tag alone ( n = 18); Group B, tag + resin anchor ( n = 15); and Group C, tag + NiTi coil anchor ( n = 15)] were bronchoscopically placed in subpleural areas and subsegmental bronchi via our new delivery device; tags were examined radiographically on days 0–7 and day 14. In addition, eight tags, which were placed at a mean depth of 13.3 mm (range 9–15.7 mm) from visceral pleura in bronchi with a mean diameter of 1.46 mm (range 0.9–2.3 mm), were recovered by partial lung resection under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using a 13.56-MHz wand-shaped probe with a 30-mm communication range. Results Peripheral airway placement: Group C had a significantly higher retention rate than the other two groups (retention rate at day 14: Group A, 11.1 %; Group B, 26.7 %; Group C, 100.0 %; P