BACKGROUND: Preoperative diagnosis and differential diagnosis of small solid pulmonary nodules are very difficult. Computed tomography (CT), as a common method for lung cancer screening, is widely used in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical data of patients with malignant pulmonary nodules and intrapulmonary lymph nodes in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of <1 cm solid pulmonary nodules, so as to provide reference for the differentiation of the two. METHODS: Patients with solid pulmonary nodules who underwent surgery from June 2017 to June 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical data of 145 nodules (lung adenocarcinoma 60, lung carcinoid 2, malignant mesothelioma 1, sarcomatoid carcinoma 1, lymph node 81) were collected and finally divided into two groups: lung adenocarcinoma and intrapulmonary lymph nodes, and their clinical data were statistically analyzed. According to the results of univariate analysis (χ² test, t test), the variables with statistical differences were selected and included in Logistic regression multivariate analysis. The predictive variables were determined and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to get the area under the curve (AUC) value of the area under the curve. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that the longest diameter, Max CT value, lobulation sign and spiculation sign were important indicators for distinguishing lung adenocarcinoma from intrapulmonary lymph nodes, and the risk ratios were 106.645 (95%CI: 3.828-2,971.220, P<0.01), 0.980 (95%CI: 0.969-0.991, P<0.01), 3.550 (95%CI: 1.299-9.701, P=0.01), 3.618 (95%CI: 1.288-10.163, P=0.02). According to the results of Logistic regression analysis, the prediction model is determined, the ROC curve is drawn, and the AUC value under the curve is calculated to be 0.877 (95%CI: 0.821-0.933, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS For <1 cm solid pulmonary nodules, among many factors, the longest diameter, Max CT value, lobulation sign and spiculation sign are more important in distinguishing malignant pulmonary nodules from intrapulmonary lymph nodes.

BACKGROUND: With the extensive development of minimally invasive surgery for pulmonary nodules, preoperative localization becomes more and more critical. There are some defects in traditional localization methods, so it is necessary to improve. The aim of this study was to compare and analyze the safety and effectiveness of two new methods, namely four-hook needle and memory alloy coil, in the localization of pulmonary nodules. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 152 patients was performed. 76 cases were in four-hook needle group, and 76 cases were in memory alloy coil group. Pulmonary nodules were located before operation, and then video-assisted wedge resection was performed. The average procedure time, localization complications and nodule resection time were counted. RESULTS: The target pulmonary nodules were successfully removed in both groups. In four-hook needle group, 76 patients found localization devices, all the pulmonary nodules were successfully removed, and one case was transferred to open the chest for wedge resection of pulmonary nodules due to severe thoracic adhesion. All 76 patients in memory alloy coil group were successfully resected with pulmonary nodules, and one patient underwent compromising enlarged resection because no lesion was found after the specimen was removed during the operation. There was no significant difference in the incidence of pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage, the success rate of localization and nodule wedge resection time between the two groups. The average time of localization in four-hook needle group was (13.66±3.11) min, lower than that of memory alloy coil group (15.51±3.65) min, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.001). In memory alloy coil group, when the distance from the nodule to the pleura was ≥1.5 cm and <1.5 cm, the average localization time was (17.20±4.46) min and (14.91±3.15) min, respectively, and there was a statistical difference between the two distance (P=0.044). CONCLUSIONS Four-hook needle and memory alloy coil have good safety and effectiveness, and the localization time of four-hook needle is shorter. When using memory alloy coil, the effect of the method is better for pulmonary nodules with a distance less than 1.5 cm to pleura.
Alloys ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed