Utility of methylene blue mixed with autologous blood in preoperative localization of pulmonary nodules and masses

Abstract

The value of CT-guided puncture with methylene blue mixed with autologous blood in preoperative localization of pulmonary nodules and masses was explored. A total of 113 patients with 146 nodules and masses were treated with methylene blue mixed with autologous blood for preoperative localization and thoracoscopic surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University between October 2021 and October 2022. The localization effect, complications, and pathological conditions were observed. The localization success rate was 98.63% (144/146). The localization failed nodules and masses could still be located by looking for needle eyes and reading films. The whole group successfully completed thoracoscopic surgery. The average interval of operation after puncture was 22.16 ± 6.22 h. There was a small amount of suspicious hemothorax after puncture. There was no pneumothorax after puncture in the whole group. There were no hemoptysis, irritating dry cough, and other reactions. The overall complication rate was 2.65%, and no special treatment was given. It is safe and effective to use methylene blue mixed with autologous blood for CT-guided preoperative puncture and localization of small pulmonary nodules and masses.

Keywords: autologous blood; localization; methylene blue; pulmonary nodules and masses.

Figure 1

Representative images before and after operation. (a) The markers appeared bule-purple on thoracoscopy (as the white arrow points); (b) after dissection, the gray-white nodules were marked with a line (as the white arrow points).