In the conventional hook-wire technique of pulmonary nodular localisations there are several “blind areas”, including the mediastinum-vicinity region, interlobar fissure-neighbouring areas and scapulae-shadowed areas. The present study aims to summarise the experiences of CT-guided microcoil placement as an alternative method for localising pulmonary ground-glass opacity (GGO) lesions before thoracoscopic wedge resections.

Sixteen GGO lesions at “blind areas” in 16 patients were localised with platinum-fibered microcoils under CT assistance before undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical resections. Information regarding coil placement, operations and complications was recorded.

Of all lesions, 1 was in the mediastinum-vicinity region, 8 were covered by the scapulae, and 7 were close to interlobar fissures (3 horizontal fissures, 4 oblique fissures). All 16 (100%) lesions had been successfully marked with microcoils. No major complications of the puncture procedure occurred; there were only minor pneumothorax (n=2) and haemoptysis (n=1) complications, which required no intervention before operations. All GGO lesions and microcoils were successfully removed by initial wedge resections. Of the 16 lesions in “blind areas”, 8 were adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), 4 were minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), 3 were atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), and 1 was interstitial fibrous tissue proliferation. No major complications occurred postoperatively.

For the “blind areas” of the hook-wire technique, CT-guided microcoil placement is an effective method of marking GGO lesions that makes thoracoscopic wedge resection easier.