Preoperative computed tomography-guided localization of pulmonary nodules: comparison between tailed coil and suture anchor localization.

INTRODUCTION

Both tailed coils and suture anchors are purpose-designed materials used for preoperative localization of pulmonary nodules (PNs). Their comparative clinical performance and safety profiles, however, have not been clearly established.

AIM: We aimed to assess the comparative efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided tailed coil and suture anchor placement for preoperative PN localization.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Patients who had undergone CT-guided PN localization followed by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) resection between January and December 2025 were consecutively included in this retrospective analysis. The participants were categorized into 2 groups: group 1 (tailed coil) and group 2 (suture anchor). Baseline characteristics along with localization- and VATS-associated outcomes were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

CT-guided localization was performed in 98 patients using tailed coils (n = 47) and suture anchors (n = 51), with 1 PN localized per patient. The technical success rate was 100% in both cohorts. Mean (SD) localization time was 20.1 (4.4) minutes in group 1 and 21.2 (3) minutes in group 2 (P = 0.16). Pneumothorax occurred in 21.3% of the cases in the tailed coil group and 23.5% in the suture anchor cohort (P = 0.79). Pulmonary hemorrhage rates were 21.3% and 11.8%, respectively (P = 0.2). All patients successfully underwent VATS sublobar resection. Additional lobectomy following sublobar resection was required in 5 cases (10.6%) in group 1 and 6 (11.8%) in group 2 (P = 0.24).

CONCLUSIONS

CT-guided tailed coil and suture anchor localization techniques appear to offer comparable clinical efficacy and safety for preoperative PN localization.