Correlation between CT growth patterns and invasiveness progression in neoplastic subcentimeter sub-solid nodules.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Sub-solid nodules (SSNs) growth patterns can indicate invasiveness.
• Understanding these patterns is crucial for early detection and management of lung cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the correlation between growth patterns (size and attenuation) and invasiveness progression in subcentimeter neoplastic SSNs.
• To identify key CT indicators for predicting invasiveness progression.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 629 neoplastic SSNs (<10 mm) from 530 patients.
• Lesions categorized into four groups based on CT changes over ≥3 months: no growth, size and attenuation growth, size-only growth, attenuation-only growth.
• Pathological results correlated with growth patterns to determine CT indicators of invasiveness progression.

Main Results:

• Invasive adenocarcinomas (IACs) and invasive lesions (ILs) were significantly more prevalent in nodules with both size and attenuation growth (Groups II) and size-only growth (Group III) compared to no growth (Group I).
• Nodules with attenuation-only growth (Group IV) showed no significant increase in IACs or ILs compared to Group I.
• Tumor mass was a more effective predictor for progression to IAC and ILs in Groups II and III.

Conclusions:

• Size growth, especially with concurrent attenuation increase, in subcentimeter SSNs indicates a higher possibility of invasiveness progression.
• Tumor mass is the primary CT indicator for predicting invasiveness progression in these nodules.