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