Prebiopsy wire localization of a small peripheral lung nodule.

Overview

The authors report a case in which metallic microcoils were placed under computed tomographic guidance as wire localization devices prior to an excisional lung biopsy. The technique and advantages are somewhat analogous to those of pre-excisional biopsy of a breast mass with use of wire localization performed under mammographic guidance. This technique was useful for localizing the mass as well as limiting the amount of surgically excised tissue in this case. Additionally, the postexcision specimen radiograph helped confirm that the lung lesion in question had been removed. This may be a useful preoperative technique prior to excisional biopsies of small lung lesions that may not be accessible with percutaneous biopsy techniques and in selected cases such as in patients with diseased lung parenchyma surrounding a lesion or in patients in whom the lesion to be excised is adjacent to the pulmonary root.