Bendixen M, et al. - In order to investigate the cost-effectiveness of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), researchers designed this study as a cost-utility analysis of the first 12 months following surgery. They performed this study together with a clinical randomized controlled trial of VATS vs thoracotomy for lobectomy of stage 1 lung cancer during a 6-year period (2008–2014). They randomized 103 VATS patients and 103 thoracotomy patients. Mean costs per patient operated by VATS were 103,108 Danish Kroner (Dkr) (€13 818) and by thoracotomy were 134,945 Dkr (€18 085). This suggests the costs for VATS 31,837 Dkr (€4267) lower than thoracotomy. Findings thus support that in stage 1 lung cancer, VATS is a cost-effective alternative to thoracotomy following lobectomy. Significantly better economical outcomes as measured by quality-adjusted life years and lower overall costs for VATS were evident.