Approach to the Subsolid Nodule

Most focal persistent ground glass nodules (GGNs) do not progress over 10 years. Research suggests that GGNs that do not progress, those that do, and solid lung cancers are fundamentally different diseases, although histologically they seem similar. Surveillance of GGNs to identify those that gradually progress is safe and does not risk losing a window. GGNs with 5 mm solid component or less than 10 mm consolidation (mediastinal and lung windows, respectively, on thin slice CT) are highly curable with resection. The optimal type of resection is unclear; sublobar resection is reasonable but an adequate margin is critically important.