Differential Diagnosis of Nonabsorbable Inflammatory and Malignant Subsolid Nodules with a Solid Component ≤5 mm

• Published in: Journal of inflammation research 2022-01, Vol.15, p.1785-1796
• Main Authors: He, Xiao-Qun, Li, Xian, Wu, Yan, Wu, Shun, Luo, Tian-You, Lv, Fa-Jin, Li, Qi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Comparative analysis; computed tomography; CT imaging; Diagnostic imaging; ground-glass opacity; Original Research; pathology; subsolid nodule
• ISSN: 1178-7031; 1178-7031
• DOI: 10.2147/JIR.S355848

To investigate the differential clinical and computed tomography (CT) characteristics of pulmonary nonabsorbable inflammatory and malignant subsolid nodules (SSNs) with a solid component ≤5 mm. We retrospectively analyzed 576 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection and had SSNs with a solid component ≤5 mm on CT images. These patients were divided into inflammatory and malignant groups according to pathology. Their clinical and imaging data were analyzed and compared. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent prognostic factors differentiating inflammatory from malignant SSNs. Furthermore, 146 consecutive patients were included as internal validation cohort to test the prediction efficiency of this model. Significant differences in 11 clinical characteristics and CT features were found between both groups ( < 0.05). Presence of respiratory symptoms, distribution of middle/lower lobe, irregular shape, part-solid nodule (PSNs), CT value of ground-glass opacity (GGO) areas