Abstract: Objective : To evaluate the value of video-assisted thoracoscopy in the diagnosis andtreatment of early peripheral lung cancers. Methods : Between November 1992 and February 2003, 56patients (38 males, 18 females, age ranging from 40 years to 77 years) with early peripheral lung can-cers underwent thoracoscopic surgery. Among them, 20 (35.7%)cases preoperative diagnosis was be-nign lesions. The operative methods include: pulmonary lobectomy (n=46), pulmonary wedge resection(n=8) and segmentectomy (n=2). Results : All procedures were performed successfully under VATS ex-cept for 2 cases (3.6%),which were converted to thoracotomy. There were no mortality or severe tom-plications. After the operations, 55 cases(98.2%)got definitive histologic diagnosis, which was signeffi-candy high than the preoperative diagnosis rate (64.3%, P<0.01). All lesions were completely resected,resection rate 100%. Conclusions : video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is of significant applicable val-ue in the diagnosis and treatment of early peripheral lung cancer.