Application of 3D Printing Technique in Small Pulmonary Nodule Localization

Three-Dimensional Printing of Navigational Template in Localization of Small Pulmonary Nodule: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Non-inferiority Trial

The trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three-dimensional printed navigational template in the clinical application of small peripheral lung nodule localization.

Localization of small lung nodule is challenging due to the difficulty of nodule recognition during VATS. A three-dimensional printed navigational template was designed to aid percutaneous lung nodule localization, and its feasibility has been confirmed in previous study. The trial was conducted to confirm the non-inferiority of template-guided method to conventional CT-guided method in terms of localization accuracy.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged from 19 to 80 years
2. lesions located in peripheral lung tissue which can be removed by wedge resection
3. The maximum diameter of the lesion is no more than 20 mm.
4. Research assistant consulted with the patient's surgeon to confirm the necessity of lung nodule localization
5. Informed consent was signed voluntarily.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. nodule located in the scapula region.
2. there were two or more lung nodules needed to be localized.