Thoracoscopy versus the open approach for resection of solitary pulmonary metastases

Abstract

The rebirth of thoracoscopy in the 1990s led to its utilization in nearly all areas of thoracic surgery, both diagnostic and therapeutic. Because of its minimally invasive nature, thoracoscopy has been accepted as the approach of choice for many thoracic surgical procedures such as pleural biopsy and sympathectomy. There are, however, areas of great controversy in which the utility of thoracoscopy continues to be highly debated and one such area is the therapeutic resection of pulmonary metastases. © 2007 Springer-Verlag London Limited.