Preoperative localization for pulmonary nodules: a meta-analysis of coil and liquid materials

This study was designed to conduct pooled comparisons of the relative clinical efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided localization for pulmonary nodules (PNs) using either coil- or liquid material-based approaches. Relevant articles published as of July 2023 were identified in the Web of Science, PubMed, and Wanfang databases, and pooled analyses of relevant endpoints were then conducted. Six articles that enrolled 287 patients (341 PNs) and 247 patients (301 PNs) that had respectively undergone CT-guided localization procedures using coil- and liquid material-based approaches prior to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) were included in this meta-analysis. The liquid material group exhibited a significantly higher pooled successful localization rate as compared to the coil group (<i>p</i> = 0.01), together with significantly lower pooled total complication rates (<i>p</i> = 0.0008) and pneumothorax rates (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Both groups exhibited similar rates of pulmonary hemorrhage (<i>p</i> = 0.44) and successful wedge resection (<i>p</i> = 0.26). Liquid-based localization was also associated with significant reductions in pooled localization and VATS procedure durations (<i>p</i> = 0.004 and 0.007). These data are consistent with CT-guided localization procedures performed using liquid materials being safer and more efficacious than coil-based localization in patients with PNs prior to VATS resection.