Abstract
Percutaneous lung biopsy and cryoablation (CRA) under imaging guidance are safe and effective options in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) with favourable outcomes. However, percutaneous puncture procedures conventionally require multiple freehand needle manipulations until a satisfactory needle position is achieved, which leads to unnecessary radiation exposure, complications and failure. Despite increasing utilisation of robotic-assisted systems in recent years, literature describing their use in CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy and CRA for pulmonary GGNs remains limited. Herein, we report our initial experience with robotic-assisted CT-guided synchronous percutaneous lung biopsy and CRA of a mixed GGN that was accidentally discovered during a physical health examination in a 77-year-old female. The 14-mm-sized mixed GGN involving the anterior segment and apical segment of the right upper lobe was successfully biopsied and cryoablated without recurrence at the 7-month follow-up. This case highlights the feasibility, safety and greater accuracy of employing a novel robotic-assisted system in lung biopsy and CRA for pulmonary sub-solid nodules.