Commentary: Practicing the philosophy of continuous improvement with virtual-assisted lung mapping 2.0

Abstract

Lung cancer screening programs have led to an increase in detection of small, semisolid or ground glass nodules concerning for malignancy.1,2 Without the ability to palpate these nodules, thoracic surgeons require precise intraoperative localization methods to perform sublobar resections with clear oncologic margins. One such method is virtual-assisted lung mapping (VAL-MAP). Now routine in Japan, VAL-MAP uses preoperative bronchoscopic placement of multiple dye marks on the lung surface to localize the nodule and guide the direction of the staple line to obtain adequate margins.