Multi-slice computed tomography features in thirty-six patients with focal pulmonary ground-glass opacity nodules

Objective To improve our recognition of focal ground-glass opacity (GGO) by analyzing clinical data of 36 patients.Methods Thirty six patients were distributed into benign lesion group,precancerous lesion group,and malignant lesion group.The clinical manifestations,computed tomography features,and laboratory test and pathology results were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among 36 focal GGO nodules (23 cases of mixed GGO and 13 cases of pure GGO),15 malignant lesions,12 pre-malignant lesions,and nine benign nodules were determined respectively.There were no statistical differences in age and sex ratio among three groups.The average size of nodules was the largest in the malignant group followed by benign group and precancerous lesion group.On the contrary,the ratio of GGO was the highest in the precancerous lesion group followed by benign group and malignant group.Most malignant GGO exhibited round shape,along with well-defined but coarse interface,lobulation and spiculated border for solid and GGO component.Similarly,GGO from precancerous lesion group mainly showed round shape and well-defined border.Furthermore,GGO with polygonal shape and long speculated and ill-defined margins were frequently shown in benign group.Conclusions The larger size and higher percent of solid component are in focal GGO for over six months,the higher probability of malignancy is. Key words: Focal ground-glass opacity;  Pulmonary nodule ;  Computed tomography