We sought to determine the eligibility of patients with early peripheral lung cancer for intentional limited resection. The clinicopathologic features of 103 patients who underwent lobectomy and mediastinal nodal dissection for early stage peripheral lung cancer measuring 2 cm or less in maximum dimension between 1992 and 2002 were examined retrospectively. The lymph node metastasis and residual cancer after thoracoscopic partial resection were analyzed by the following categories. Three groups were divided by maximum dimension of the primary lesion in the resected specimen; 10 mm or less (n = 11), 15 mm or less (n = 33), and 20 mm or less (n = 59). Two groups were divided by lesion histology; bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma (BAC) [n = 42] and invasive lung cancer (n = 61). Residual cancer was found in the residual lobe after thoracoscopic partial resection in 3 of 43 patients who had no diagnosis preoperatively. Their maximum dimensions were 15 mm or less. No lymph node metastasis was detected in the patients with tumor measuring 10 mm or less, and BAC. Intentional limited resection without mediastinal nodal dissection is appropriate for patients with tumor measuring 10 mm or less and BAC. Further investigation associated with partial resection is necessary.