Preoperative CT-guided localization for pulmonary nodules: comparison between tailed coil and suture anchor localization

Abstract

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

Aim   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 2025 and December 2025 were consecutively included in this retrospective analysis. Patients were categorized into tailed coil and suture anchor groups. Baseline characteristics and localization- and VATS-associated outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results   CT-guided localization was performed using tailed coils in 47 patients and suture anchors in 51 patients, with one PN localized per patient. The technical success rate was 100% in both cohorts. The mean time for localization was 20.1 (4.4) minutes in the tailed coil cohort and 21.2 (3.0) minutes in the suture anchor cohort (P = 0.16). Pneumothorax occurred in 21.3% of cases in the tailed coil cohort and 23.5% in the suture anchor cohort (P = 0.79). Pulmonary hemorrhage rates were 21.3% and 11.8%, respectively (P = 0.20). All patients successfully underwent VATS sublobar resection. Additional lobectomy following sublobar resection was required in 5 cases (10.6%) in the tailed coil cohort and 6 (11.8%) in the suture anchor cohort (P = 0.24).

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