How I do it: Multiport video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery of the right middle lobe for non-small cell lung cancer: Right middle lobectomy in 12 steps.

Abstract

Right middle lobe (RML) lobectomy for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the least commonly performed lobectomy at 5% to 10%.1,2 RML lobectomy is not infrequently performed as a bilobectomy if tumors are located close to the RML anatomy and right upper or lower lobectomy alone is not feasible. Sublobar resection of the RML for small NSCLC is feasible but has worse outcomes as tumor size increases.3 Current randomized trials are ongoing to prospectively evaluate these retrospective findings.4