Primary solid lung cancerous nodules with different sizes: computed tomography features and their variations

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Computed tomography (CT) characteristics of small solid lung cancerous nodules (SLCNs) and their evolution during growth are not well-documented.
• Accurate assessment of SLCNs is crucial for early lung cancer diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the computed tomography (CT) features of solid lung cancerous nodules (SLCNs) across different size categories.
• To investigate the variations in CT characteristics as SLCNs increase in diameter.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 224 patients with 225 primary SLCNs was analyzed between February 2013 and April 2018.
• Nodules were categorized into four groups based on diameter: ≤1.0 cm, 1.0-1.5 cm, 1.5-2.0 cm, and 2.0-3.0 cm.
• CT features for nodules within each size group were systematically summarized and compared.

Main Results:

• Nodule location in upper lobes and distance from the pleura were common across all size groups.
• Significant differences in CT features were observed between nodules ≤1 cm and those >1 cm.
• Increasing nodule diameter correlated with a higher prevalence of regular shape, homogeneous density, clear/coarse interface, lobulation, spiculation, vascular convergence, and pleural retraction (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• CT features of SLCNs exhibit distinct variations based on nodule size.
• Recognizing these size-dependent CT changes is valuable for identifying smaller suspicious malignant nodules.
• This understanding aids in the early determination of the nature of SLCNs during follow-up imaging.