Cryotherapy in Treating Patients With Primary Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer or Lung Metastasis

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed (by percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy or transbronchial biopsy) diagnosis of 1 the following:

Non-small cell lung carcinoma

Stage I disease
Primary disease
No primary lung metastatic disease, satellite lesions of the chest, mediastinal lymph nodes > 1.5 cm, hepatic or adrenal masses by the PET scan or the CT scan

Metastatic cancer to the lung

Must have a definitive cancer diagnosis with the primary tumor under local control and no metastatic disease other than to the lung
Solitary or multiple (≤ 3) peripheral lung lesions
No chemotherapy since the new metastatic lesion appeared
Measurable disease, defined as 1 lesion unidimensionally measured ≤ 3.0 cm by conventional CT scan techniques
Must be registered with the Clinical Trials office at the Karmanos Cancer Center/Wayne State University
Must be a candidate for a thoracotomy
No evidence of cerebral disease or metastatic disease of the brain

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Neutrophil count > 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count > 75,000/mm^3
PT and PTT normal
FEV_1 > 1.0 L/sec
Diffusing capacity ≥ 30%
Not pregnant or nursing

No other uncontrolled or concurrent illnesses including, but not limited to, any of the following conditions:

Active infection
Heart failure
Unstable angina
Cardiac dysrhythmia
Psychiatric illness or a social situation that would limit compliance with the study requirements

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics
No prior radiation therapy or chemotherapy for these particular tumors
No concurrent aspirin or other platelet-inhibiting drugs (e.g., coumadin or heparin)
No other concurrent experimental studies