Objectives: The solitary pulmonary nodule remains a common clinical problem. The essential question is whether the lesion is malignant or not. This discussion presents the clinical practice and looks at the problem.
Design: Didactic.
Setting: Academic tertiary-care hospital.
Patients: Prospective thoracic database.
Interventions: Minimally invasive technique.
Results: The workup and treatment of the solitary pulmonary nodule is presented with particular emphasis on the role of minimally invasive techniques. A small single-institution series is referenced.
Conclusions: The approach is safe and highly effective in diagnosing and often in treating solitary pulmonary nodules.