Pure ground-glass opacity neoplastic lung nodules: histopathology, imaging, and management

The purpose of this article is to discuss histologic diagnosis of pure pulmonary ground-glass opacity nodules (GGNs), high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings and pathologic correlation, and management.

When pure GGNs are greater than 15 mm in diameter with nodularity or have high pixel attenuation (>-472 HU), the nodules are more likely to be invasive adenocarcinomas. Sublobar resection with a secured safety margin and without nodal dissection is performed for HRCT-suggested pure-GGN invasive adenocarcinomas and has a 100% 5-year survival rate.