Wedge Resection

A wedge resection is a surgical procedure during which the surgeon removes a small, wedge-shaped portion of the lung containing the cancerous cells along with healthy tissue that surrounds the area. The surgery is performed to remove a small tumor or to diagnose lung cancer. A wedge resection is performed instead of a lobectomy (removing a complete lung lobe) when there is a danger of decreased lung function if too much of the lung is removed. A wedge resection can be performed by minimally-invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or a thoracotomy (open chest surgery).