SynthesisThe Journal of international medical research2023
Use of methylene blue and a spring microcoil in the preoperative localization of small pulmonary nodules under CT guidance: a meta-analysis.
Synthesis in The Journal of international medical research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Preoperative and intraoperative localization of small pulmonary nodules for thoracoscopic surgery: a contemporary narrative review.Journal of robotic surgery · 2026Review
- A comparative study of 4-hook anchor device with methylene blue for preoperative pulmonary nodule localization.Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery · 2025Article
- Comparison of indocyanine green and blue-stained glue for preoperative localization for pulmonary nodules.Frontiers in oncology · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveMethylene blue (MB) and spring microcoils are used for the preoperative localization of small pulmonary nodules (SPNs). We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of these methods using published data.
methodsWe identified randomized controlled trials and observational studies that assessed preoperative SPN localization using MB or spring microcoil and compared these using a meta-analysis.
resultsSeven studies of 933 patients were identified, in whom 1081 SPNs were located. Four hundred twenty-four SPNs were located using MB (n = 359 participants), and 657 SPNs were located using the spring microcoil method (n = 574 participants). The prevalence of technical success of SPN localization was higher using MB (mean deviation [MD]: 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20, 0.93); the incidence of postoperative complications was lower (MD: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.65); and the time taken for removal was longer (MD: -12.37; 95% CI: -22.60, -2.13). There were no differences with respect to the successful wedge resection rate, the time taken for localization, the duration of the procedure, or the mean hospital stay.
conclusionsBoth methods can detect SPNs; however, MB is associated with a higher success rate and fewer postoperative complications, while spring microcoil localization is associated with more rapid removal.
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