Anatomic variations for right sided lobectomies

Although lobectomy remains the “gold standard” for resectable non-small cell lung cancer, the technical challenges to this operation rely on a sound knowledge of arterial and bronchial anatomy, as well as their variations. One study of 140 patients undergoing thoracic anatomic resections found abnormalities of vasculature in 23 patients, contributing to an observed frequency of 16.4% (1). In 1986, a separate radiographic study in 107 right and 113 left lower lobes (2) demonstrated variation of segmental venous tributaries of the inferior pulmonary vein in as many as 20% of cases. We wish to congratulate the authors for their intricate and detailed description of right upper, middle and lower lobectomies. We applaud their attention to anatomic detail and would highlight the following points.