To evaluate the clinical value of CT-guided percutaneous injection of autologous blood for preoperative localization in patients with small pulmonary nodules.

Total of 30 patients with 36 cases of pulmonary nodules were marked by percutaneous autologous blood injection under CT guidance preoperatively in the thoracic surgery department of the first affiliated hospital of USTC between September 2018 and June 2019. The localization effect, complication, pathological results and operation relates data were statistically analyzed.

CT showed that the diameter of the nodules was 4-17 mm, with an average of (9.22 mm±3.51 mm). The vertical distance between the lesion and pleura was 0-20 mm, with an average of (6.97 mm±5.73 mm). The distance between the puncture pleural entry point and the lesion was 1-36 mm, with an average of (10.97 mm±7.70 mm). The success rate of positioning is 93.3%.The average operation time from the determination of puncture path to the completion of positioning was (13.38 min±6.09 min). After puncture, 1 patient presented with moderate pneumothorax, 1 patient presented with small pneumothorax, 1 patient presented with small hemopneumothorax, 1 patient presented with small hemothorax, 2 patients presented with intrapulmonary hematoma formation, all of which were not specially treated, and the overall complication rate was 20%. Wedge resection was performed in 26 patients (72.2%), segmentectomy was peformed in 5 patients (13.9%), and lobectomy was peformed in 5 patients (13.9%).Pathological results showed 28 cases of malignant nodules and 8 cases of benign nodules.

Autologous blood is an ideal positioning material for preoperative CT guided localization of peripheral subpleural pulmonary nodules, which is safe and effective with few side effects.