Safe resection margin in video-assisted left anterior and lingular segmentectomy for an impalpable lung nodule

INTRODUCTION: The nodule located at the left anterior segment near the lingular segment is traditionally resected by left upper lobectomy. We performed video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy and could achieve a complete resection that is minimally invasive and oncologically sufficient. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An 82-year-old woman was found to have a nodule in the left anterior segment of the lung on chest computed tomography (CT). The nodule was 1.9 cm in size and strongly suspected to be lung carcinoma. No suspicious regions of metastasis were observed; thus, we diagnosed stage IA2 and decided to perform anterior and lingular segmentectomy by VATS. DISCUSSION: Because of the location, the tumor is traditionally resected by left upper lobectomy. However, we planned a minimally invasive intervention and performed anterior and lingular segmentectomy by VATS using a CT-guided nodule marking prior to the surgery. CONCLUSION: This technique resulted in complete tumor resection with minimal adverse effects.