OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the feasibility of performing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy, without significant morbidity or perioperative mortality, in patients with small (no greater than 3.0 cm), peripheral, non-small cell lung cancer. II. Determine the rate at which a thoracotomy must be carried out to complete a VATS lobectomy in these patients. III. Describe the complications associated with this procedure. IV. Describe the length of the operative procedure, duration of chest tube stay, and length of hospitalization in this patient population. V. Describe the survival and failure-free survival, over a 5-year period, in this patient population following this procedure.