The predictive value of CT signs of mixed ground-glass nodules in pathological subtypes and differentiation of lung adenocarcinoma / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To explore the predictive value of CT signs of mixed ground-glass nodules in the pathological subtype and differentiation of lung adenocarcinoma. Methods    The clinical data of 66 patients with mixed ground-glass nodules pathologically diagnosed as invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC) in the Second Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from May to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 20 males and 46 females, aged 35-75 years. The CT findings were analyzed before operation, and the lesion profile was cut after operation to distinguish the ground-glass and solid components, and the pathological results of different positions were obtained. According to the postoperative pathological results, the patients were divided into a low-risk group (containing adherent type and no components of micropapillary subtype and solid subtype, n=16), a medium-risk group (containing niple or acinar type and no components of micropapillary subtype and solid subtype, n=38), and a high-risk group (containing micropapillary or solid subtype, n=12). The relationships between CT features and the pathological subtype and degree of differentiation were analyzed and compared. Results    In 66 patients with IAC, the infiltration degree of solid components was greater than that of ground-glass components. When the solid component ratio (CTR) was≥25% (sensitivity 90.2%, specificity 64.0%, P=0.005), and the average CT value was>−283.95 HU (sensitivity 82.9%, specificity 64.0%, P=0.000), the histological grade was more inclined to medium and low differentiation. The CTR, Ki-67, average CT value and histological grade of IAC in the medium- and high-risk groups were higher than those of nodules in the low-risk group. Conclusion    The infiltration degree of solid components is higher than that of ground-glass components in IAC mixed ground-glass nodules. The pathological subtype, Ki-67 expression and histological grade of lung adenocarcinoma can be predicted according to its CT characteristics, which has important clinical significance for determining the timing of surgery.

Establishment and Verification of Benign and Malignant Prediction Model of Subcentimeter Pulmonary Ground Glass Nodules Based on HRCT / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Pre-operative accuracy of subcentimeter ground glass nodules (SGGNs) is a difficult problem in clinical practice, but there are few clinical studies on the benign and malignant prediction model of SGGNs. The aim of this study was to help identify benign and malignant lesions of SGGNs based on the imaging features of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and the general clinical data of patients, and to build a risk prediction model.@*METHODS@#This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 483 patients with SGGNs who underwent surgical resection and were confirmed by histology from the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from August 2020 to December 2021. The patients were divided into the training set (n=338) and the validation set (n=145) according to 7:3 random assignment. According to the postoperative histology, they were divided into adenocarcinoma group and benign lesion group. The independent risk factors and models were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate the model differentiation, and the calibration curve was used to evaluate the model consistency. The clinical application value of the decision curve analysis (DCA) evaluation model was drawn, and the validation set data was substituted for external verification.@*RESULTS@#Multivariate Logistic analysis screened out patients' age, vascular sign, lobular sign, nodule volume and mean-CT value as independent risk factors for SGGNs. Based on the results of multivariate analysis, Nomogram prediction model was constructed, and the area under ROC curve was 0.836 (95%CI: 0.794-0.879). The critical value corresponding to the maximum approximate entry index was 0.483. The sensitivity was 76.6%, and the specificity was 80.1%. The positive predictive value was 86.5%, and the negative predictive value was 68.7%. The benign and malignant risk of SGGNs predicted by the calibration curve was highly consistent with the actual occurrence risk after sampling 1,000 times using Bootstrap method. DCA showed that patients showed a positive net benefit when the predictive probability of the predicted model probability was 0.2 to 0.9.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Based on preoperative medical history and preoperative HRCT examination indicators, the benign and malignant risk prediction model of SGGNs was established to have good predictive efficacy and clinical application value. The visualization of Nomogram can help to screen out high-risk groups of SGGNs, providing support for clinical decision-making.

Growth Regularity of Pulmonary Ground Glass Nodules Based on 3D Reconstruction Technology / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Since the popularization of computed tomography (CT) technology, the detection rate of pulmonary ground glass nodules (GGNs) with imaging follow-up as the main management method has increased significantly. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively analyze the changes of pulmonary GGNs during the follow-up process with three-dimensional reconstruction technology, explore the natural progression of pulmonary GGNs, and provide effective basis for clinical guidance for patients to conduct reasonable management of nodules.@*METHODS@#A total of 115 cases of pulmonary GGNs with regular follow-up in the Combined Outpatient Department of Zhoushan Hospital from March 2015 to November 2022 were enrolled. Quantitative imaging features of nodules were extracted by semi-automatic segmentation of 3D Slicer software to evaluate the growth of nodules and clinical intervention during follow-up.@*RESULTS@#The average baseline age of the patients was (56.9±10.1) yr. The mean follow-up time was (48.8±18.9) months. The two-dimensional diameter of baseline CT scan was (7.9±2.9) mm, and the maximum three-dimensional diameter was (10.1±3.4) mm. The two-dimensional diameter of the last CT scan was (9.9±4.7) mm, and the maximum three-dimensional diameter was (11.4±5.1) mm. A total of 27 cases (23.5%) showed an increase during follow-up, with a median volume doubling time of 822 days and a median mass doubling time of 1,007 days. 32 cases were surgically resected, including 6 cases of invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC), 16 cases of minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), 8 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and 2 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH). Five nodules underwent surgical intervention due to the progression of two-dimensional diameter, which was pathologically confirmed as pre-invasive lesions, but their three-dimensional maximum diameter showed no significant change. Nodular morphology, lobulated sign, spiculated sign and vacuole signs all promoted the growth of nodules in univariate analysis. There were significant differences in age, baseline diameter, mean CT value, median CT value, 10% and 90% percentile CT number between the growth group and the stable group (P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age and average CT value were risk factors for nodule growth (P<0.05). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis results indicated that the age ≥63 years old, the baseline three-dimensional maximum diameter ≥9.2 mm, and the average CT value ≥-507.8 HU were more likely to accelerate the growth of GGNs. The maximum three-dimensional diameter ≥14.4 mm and the average CT value ≥-495.7 HU may be a higher malignant probability.@*CONCLUSIONS@#GGNs show an inert growth process, and the use of three-dimensional measurements during follow-up is of greater significance. For persistent glass grinding nodules ≥63 years old, the baseline three-dimensional maximum diameter ≥9.2 mm, and the average CT value ≥-507.8 HU are more likely to increase. However, most nodules still have good prognosis after progression, and long-term follow-up is safe.

Prediction of Lymph Node Metastasis of Mixed Ground-glass Nodules Based on Clinical Imaging Information / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Previous studies have shown that lymph node metastasis only occurs in some mixed ground-glass nodules (mGGNs) which the pathological results were invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC). However, the presence of lymph node metastasis leads to the upgrading of tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and worse prognosis of the patients, so it is important to perform the necessary evaluation before surgery to guide the operation method of lymph node. The aim of this study was to find suitable clinical and radiological indicators to distinguish whether mGGNs with pathology as IAC is accompanied by lymph node metastasis, and to construct a prediction model for lymph node metastasis.@*METHODS@#From January 2014 to October 2019, the patients with resected IAC appearing as mGGNs in computed tomography (CT) scan were reviewed. All the lesions were divided into two groups (with lymph node metastasis or not) according to their lymph node status. Lasso regression model analysis by applying R software was used to evaluate the relationship between clinical and radiological parameters and lymph node metastasis of mGGNs.@*RESULTS@#A total of 883 mGGNs patients were enroled in this study, among which, 12 (1.36%) showed lymph node metastasis. Lasso regression model analysis of clinical imaging information in mGGNs with lymph node metastasis showed that previous history of malignancy, mean density, mean density of solid components, burr sign and percentage of solid components were informative. Prediction model for lymph node metastasis in mGGNs was developed based on the results of Lasso regression model with area under curve=0.899.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Clinical information combined with CT imaging information can predict lymph node metastasis in mGGNs.

Treatment of Patients with Mediate-Risk Pure Ground Glass Pulmonary Nodules Based on the State Theory：A Prospective Randomize-controlled Clinical Observation / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of treating mediate-risk pure ground glass pulmonary nodules （pGGNs） based on the state theory. MethodsA prospective clinical randomized controlled trial was used. Totally 141 cases of mediate-risk pGGNs were divided into treatment group （92 cases） and control group （49 cases） according to the random table method. The treatment group was given the basic Sanjie Formula （基础散结方） orally with modification according to the identification of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） state， 1 dose per day， 3 months as a course of treatment.Three months after the treatment patients were checked by CT. Patients who were clinically judged as cure， moderate to low risk， and turned to surgical resection do not carry out a second course of treatment，and the rest of the patients continued to complete the second courses. Patients in the control group did not receive any treatment and were only followed up periodically. Patients in both groups received a CT review 3 months and 6 months after enrolled. Comprehensive curative effect was evaluated according to the reduction rate of the area of pulmonary nodules shown in chest CT， to further explore the clinical effective difference for patients at different TCM state； the risk of malignancy index （Mayo score） was calculated by Mayo model at enrollment and 3 months and 6 months after enrolled. Adverse events were monitored continuously during the study. ResultsDuring the follow-up， 8 cases in the treatment group and 7 cases in the control group were lost. A total of 126 cases completed the whole process， including 84 cases in the treatment group and 42 cases in the control group. The total effective rates at 3 months and 6 months of the treatment group were 46.15% （30/65） and 45.71% （32/70） in the treatment group， while the total effective rates at 3 months and 6 months in the control group were 12.5% （4/32） and 10.00% （4/40）. Compared with the control group， the comprehensive curative effect of 3 months and 6 months of enrollment in treatment group was significantly better than that in corresponding control group （P＜0.01）. The pulmonary nodule area and Mayo score in the treatment group decreased after 3 and 6 months of enrollment （P＜0.01）. In contrast， there was no statistically significant difference in nodule area between pre- and post-enrollment time points in the control group （P＞0.05）， and probability of Mayo risk increased in the control group after 6 months of enrollment compared to pre-enrollment （P＜0.05）. Among the 84 patients in the treatment group， there were 15 cases of qi deficiency state， 7 cases of yin deficiency state， 5 cases of yang deficiency state， 20 cases of qi depression state， 32 cases of damp-heat state， and 5 cases of harmonious state； the difference in the distribution of the total clinical effective rate of the patients with different TCM states after treatment was statistically significant （P＜0.05）， and the total effective rate of two-by-two comparison of qi depression state was higher （13/20，65.00%） than that of the total effective rate of damp-heat state （8/32，25.00%， P＜0.00833）. There were no significant changes in blood routine， urine routine， liver function and kidney function in both groups， and no adverse events occurred. ConclusionTreating mediate-risk pGGNs based on the state theory can effectively reduce the area of pulmonary nodules and inhibit the growth of malignant risk of pulmonary nodules.

Application value of radiomics-based machine learning model in identifying the degree of pulmonary ground-glass nodule infiltration / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To establish a machine learning model based on computed tomography (CT) radiomics for preoperatively predicting invasive degree of lung ground-glass nodules (GGNs). Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of GGNs patients whose solid component less than 3 cm in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from March 2021 to July 2021 and the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 2019 to May 2022. The lesions were divided into pre-invasiveness and invasiveness according to postoperative pathological results, and the patients were randomly divided into a training set and a test set in a ratio of 7∶3. Radiomic features (1 317) were extracted from CT images of each patient, the max-relevance and min-redundancy (mRMR) was used to screen the top 100 features with the most relevant categories, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to select radiomic features, and the support vector machine (SVM) classifier was used to establish the prediction model. We calculated the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative predictive value, positive predictive value to evaluate the performance of the model, drawing calibration and decision curves of the prediction model to evaluate the accuracy and clinical benefit of the model, analyzed the performance in the training set and subgroups with different nodule diameters, and compared the prediction performance of this model with Mayo and Brock models. Two primary thoracic surgeons were required to evaluate the invasiveness of GGNs to investigate the clinical utility of the mode. Results    A total of 400 patients were divided into the training set (n=280) and the test set (n=120) according to the admission criteria. There were 267 females and 133 males with an ……

Correlation analysis between the maximum standard uptake value based on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT and the epidermal growth factor receptor mutation status of lung adenocarcinoma appearing as ground glass nodules / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To explore the relationship between the maximum standard uptake value (SUV max) based on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status of lung adenocarcinoma appearing as ground glass nodules (GGN). Methods:A total of 103 patients with lung adenocarcinoma from October 2011 to December 2020 in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT and high-resolution CT, and underwent surgical resection and EGFR detecting within one month. The patients were divided into EGFR mutation group and wild group according to the EGFR test results. The GGN number, type, location, shape, lobulation sign, spicule sign, abnormal bronchial sign, vacuole sign, pleural indentation, diameter of GGNs (D GGN), diameter of solid component (D solid) and nodule ground-glass opacity component CT mean (CT GGO) were analyzed on CT images. The maximum standard uptake value (SUV max) of nodules was measured on PET-CT images. The t test, Mann-Whitney U test or χ 2 test were used to compare the differences of clinical data, pathological data, CT imaging parameters and SUV max between the two groups. Hierarchical binary logistic regression model was used to assess whether there was any association between SUV max and EGFR mutation status in different subgroups. Generalized additive model and smooth curve fitting were applied to solve nonlinear problems, and piecewise binary logistic regression model was used to explain nonlinearity. Results:A total of 103 patients with 106 nodules were finally included. There were 75 patients (78 nodules) in the EGFR mutation group and 28 patients (28 nodules) in the EGFR wild group. Adenocarcinomas with EGFR mutation showed significantly higher spiculated edge, pleural depression sign and invasive adenocarcinoma proportions than those in EGFR wild group ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in other indicators between groups ( P>0.05). After adjusting for age and fasting blood glucose, gender and the number of GGNs significantly affected the relationship between SUV max and EGFR mutation ( P<0.05), which suggested that there was an interaction. After adjusting for confounding factors, there was a non-linear relationship between SUV max and EGFR mutation status in female subgroup (degree of freedom was 1.817, P=0.026). When SUV max<2.4, the risk of EGFR mutation increased significantly with the increase of SUV max (OR=43.621, 95%CI 4.686-406.042), P<0.001]. When SUV max>2.4, the risk of EGFR mutation increased insignificantly ( P=0.392). Conclusions:Lung adenocarcinoma appearing as GGN has a higher risk of EGFR mutation. The risk of EGFR mutation in female patients increases with increasing SUV max, but there is saturation effect.

Research progress of radiomics toward lung adenocarcinoma manifesting as solitary ground glass nodule / 国际肿瘤学杂志

The detection of early lung adenocarcinoma manifesting as ground glass nodule (GGN) is increasing. The promoting precision targeted therapy arises the need of radiomics (RM) and radiogenomics, a series of noninvasively radiological technology based on multiple modality, to assist the process including determination in diagnosis, treatment and follow-up strategy and release burden in clinical practice. RM, playing an important role in lung adenocarcinoma manifesting as GGN, can provide information towards the different components of the nodules, the analysis of peritumoral areas, the reduction of over diagnosis and treatment, the selection of targeted therapy and follow-up.

The value of qualitative and quantitative parameters of dual-layer spectral detector CT plain scan in predicting the invasiveness of pure ground-glass pulmonary nodules / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To explore the predictive value of qualitative and quantitative parameters of dual-layer spectral detector CT plain scan on the invasiveness of pure ground-glass pulmonary nodules (pGGNs).Methods:Clinical and imaging data of 113 patients (119 pGGNs) with pathology-proven lung adenocarcinoma who underwent preoperative dual-layer spectral detector CT plain scan in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from November 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to invasiveness, pGGNs were divided into non-invasive adenocarcinoma (non-IA) group ( n=66) and IA group ( n=53). The non-IA group included atypical adenomatous hyperplasia ( n=10), adenocarcinoma in situ ( n=26) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma ( n=30). The qualitative parameters were nodule shape, lung-tumor interface, lobulation, spiculation, pleural retraction, bubblelike lucency, air bronchogram and vascular abnormality. The quantitative parameters included nodule size, effective atomic number (Z eff), CT value on 120 kVp images (CT 120 kVp) and virtual monoenergetic images from 40 keV to 200 keV (CT 40 keV-CT 200 keV), and slope of energy spectrum curve (λHU). The χ 2 test, Mann-Whitney U test and independent sample t test were used to analyze the parameter differences between non-IA group and IA group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to screen out independent predictors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the diagnostic efficacy of single predictor and combined independent factors for the invasiveness of pGGN. Results:Significant differences were found in nodule shape, lobulation, air bronchogram, vascular abnormality, nodules size, Z eff, CT 120 kVp and CT 40 keV-CT 200 keV between non-IA and IA groups ( P<0.05). The maltivariate logistic regression analysis showed that nodule size [odds ratio 9.269, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.640-52.395, P=0.012] CT 200 keV (odds ratio 1.012, 95%CI 1.006-1.019, P<0.001) as well as vascular abnormality sign (odds ratio 4.940, 95%CI 1.358-17.969, P=0.015) were independent predictors of pGGN invasiveness. ROC curve analysis of a single independent predictor and a combination of the three factors showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the combination of three factors predicting the invasiveness of pGGN was significantly higher than the AUC of vascular abnormality sign ( Z=4.01, P<0.001) and CT 200 keV ( Z=3.25, P=0.001), while there was no significant difference in AUC between the combination of the three factors and nodule size ( Z=1.94, P=0.052). The AUC of the combination of the three independent predictors was 0.909, and the sensitivity and specificity for predicting pGGN invasion were 81.1% and 86.4%, respectively, using a threshold of 0.505. Conclusion:The combination of qualitative and quantitative parameters of dual-layer spectral detector CT plain scan shows a high predictive value for the invasiveness of pGGNs.

The value of virtual monoenergetic images and electron density map derived from dual-layer spectral detector CT in differentiating benign from malignant pulmonary ground glass nodules / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) and electron density map (EDM) derived from the dual-layer spectral detector CT (DLCT) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pulmonary ground glass nodules (GGN).Methods:From July 2019 to August 2020, a total of 65 patients with lung GGN (27 benign GGNs and 38 malignant GGNs) confirmed by pathology were retrospectively enrolled in Gulou Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University. All the patients underwent DLCT plain scanning within two weeks before the surgery. The conventional 120 kVp polyenergetic image (PI), EDM and 40-80 keV VMI were reconstructed. The differences of CT and electron density (ED) values between benign and malignant lesions on different images were compared by Mann-Whitney U test. Independent t-test was used to compare the lesion size and χ 2 test was used to analyze the CT features (including lesion location, shape, edge, internal structure, adjacent structure, nodule type) between benign and malignant lesions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the efficacy of different energy spectrum quantitative parameters in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant GGN. The statistically significant CT signs and energy spectrum quantitative parameters were analyzed by logistic regression analysis to find out the independent risk factors of malignant GGN, and then ROC curve analysis was performed for each independent risk factor alone or in combination. Results:There were significant differences in lesion shape, spiculation, lobulation, location and size between benign and malignant groups ( P<0.05). The CT value of pulmonary GGN in PI, 40-80 keV VMI and the ED value in EDM were statistically different between benign and malignant lesions ( P<0.05). The area under ROC curve (AUC) were 0.680, 0.682, 0.683, 0.686, 0.694, 0.676 and 0.722, respectively, among which the ED value had the highest AUC. Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out with GGN shape, spiculation, lobulation, location, size, ED value and CT value in PI, 40-80 keV VMI as independent variables, and malignant GGN as dependent variables. The results showed that ED value (OR=1.045, 95%CI 1.001-1.090, P=0.044), lesion size (OR=1.582, 95%CI 1.159-2.158, P=0.004), spiculation sign (OR=11.352, 95%CI 2.379-54.172, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for malignant GGN. ROC curve analysis showed the AUC of ED value, lesion size, spiculation sign and combination of the three for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant GGN were 0.722, 0.772, 0.698 and 0.885. The AUC for the combined parameters was the largest, with sensitivity of 92.1% and specificity of 74.1%. Conclusion:The diagnostic efficacy of EDM is higher than that of other VMI in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary GGN by DLCT images; The efficacy is further improved when EDM is combined with lesion size and spiculation sign for comprehensive diagnosis.

Relation Between Imaging Microfeatures of Artificial Intelligence-assisted Diagnosis System and Prognosis of Lung Adenocarcinomas Presented as Ground-glass Nodules / 肿瘤防治研究

Objective To investigate the relation between the imaging microfeatures of AI-assisted diagnosis system and the prognosis of lung adenocarcinomas presented as ground-glass nodules (GGN). Methods We retrospectively analyzed CT data of 162 patients with lung adenocarcinomas presented as GGN. According to different imaging characteristics, the patients were divided into pure ground glass nodules (PGGN) group and mixed ground glass nodules (MGGN) group. The AI-assisted diagnosis system was used to extract their imaging microfeatures, and their relation with the prognosis of the patients was analyzed. Results The five-year OS and RFS were 89.7% and 88.5% in PGGN group, and 81.0% and 79.0% in MGGN group (χ2=6.289/7.255, P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression showed that imaging microfeatures such as microvascular cluster (P < 0.001), standard nodule volume (P=0.013) and nodule length (P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for OS, meanwhile, imaging microfeatures such as microvascular cluster (P < 0.001), standard nodule volume (P=0.017), nodule length (P=0.005), nodule central density (P=0.038) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for RFS. Conclusion The AI-assisted diagnosis system can effectively predict the prognosis of lung adenocarcinomas presented as GGN, and it also has a certain reference value for the clinical precision diagnosis and treatment of GGN and the prevention and treatment of early lung cancer.

Analysis of a surgical series of patients with synchronous multiple ground-glass nodules / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To summarize the clinical experience of surgical resection of synchronous multiple ground-glass nodules (SMGN), and explore the individualized diagnosis and treatment strategy of SMGN. Methods    Clinical data of 84 patients with SMGN who underwent thoracic surgery in Anhui Chest Hospital from July 2016 to August 2018 were analyzed retrospectively, including 18 males (21.4%) and 66 females (78.6%), aged 32-80 (55.6±10.3) years. The results of operation and the information of GGNs were analyzed. Results    Except for 1 patient who was converted to thoracotomy due to extensive dense adhesion of thoracic, other patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery successfully. All patients recuperated successfully after operation, without severe perioperative complications or death. Finally, 79 patients were diagnosed as malignant tumors (94.0%), and 5 patients of benign lesions (6.0%). A total of 240 GGNs were removed, among which there were 168 pGGNs, including 68 benign lesions (40.5%) and 100 malignant tumors (59.5%), and 72 mGGNs, including 2 benign nodules (2.8%) and 70 malignant tumors (97.2%). Nodules diameter (P<0.001), consolidation/maximum diameter of nodule ratio (P<0.001), vacuole sign (P<0.001), air bronchograms sign (P=0.001), spine-like process (P=0.001), pleural indentation sign (P<0.001), lobulation sign (P<0.001), and vascular convergence (P=0.002) were correlated with malignant tumor. Conclusion    Analysis of the imaging features of GGNs by thin-section CT scan and three-dimensional reconstruction is of great value in predicting the benign and malignant nodules, which can guide the surgical decision-making and preoperative planning. Through reasonable preoperative planning and following certain principles, simultaneous surgical treatment for SMGN is safe and feasible.

Preliminary Study of CT Three-dimensional Reconstruction Combined with Ground Glass Nodules of Natural Lung Collapse in Thoracoscopic Pulmonary Segmental Resection / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Computed tomography (CT) three-dimensional reconstruction technology is increasingly used in preoperative planning of patients with ground glass nodule (GGN), but how to accurately locate the nodule and ensure the safe resection edge is still a difficult problem for clinicians. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy, convenience and safety of CT three-dimensional reconstruction combined with intraoperative natural collapse localization in total thoracoscopic segmental pneumonectomy.@*METHODS@#A total of 45 patients with radiographic findings of pulmonary GGN admitted from July 2019 to December 2019 were selected as the study group. All patients received thin-slice CT scan and underwent preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction. After anesthesia, the small thoracic operation opening and the airway of the patients were quickly opened, and the lung was rapidly and naturally collapsed by pressure difference. GGN were positioned according to the natural marker line, and marked with 3-0 prolene line. After specimen removal, the distance between the GGN and the suture mark, the distance between the GGN and the incision margin were measured, and the incision margin was routinely examined. The general clinical data, pathological data and postoperative complications were counted and compared with 45 consecutive patients who were located with hookwire positioning needle in the same period.@*RESULTS@#The average localization time of non-invasive GGN with natural lung collapse during operation was 6.9 min, and the localization accuracy was 90.6%. There were 2 cases of extensive pleural adhesion and 1 case of emphysema. Postoperative pathology was confirmed as lung adenocarcinoma, and the examination of incision margin was negative. No GGNs were scanned again after surgery, and the precise resection rate of lung segment was 100.0%.@*CONCLUSIONS@#CT three-dimensional reconstruction combined with GGN localization of natural lung collapse during operation can shorten the time of searching for GGN during operation and guarantee the safety of the incision margin. It is a more economical and convenient localization method and makes pulmonary segment resection more accurate.

The advancements in natural growth history of pulmonary ground-glass nodules / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#With the development of thin section axial computed tomography scan, the detection rate of pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGN) continues increasing. GGN has a special natural growth history: pure ground-glass nodules (PGGN) smaller than 10 mm can hold steady for a long term, surgery resection is unnecessary, patients need regular follow up. Larger part solid ground-glass nodules (PSN) with a solid component can be malignant early stage lung cancer, which requires early surgery intervention. Establishment of a standard definition of GGN growth, investments in the long term natural growth history of GGN, validation of the clinical, radiology and genetic risk factors would be beneficial for the management of GGN patients.

Study of EGFR mutation status in multiple pulmonary ground-glass nodules / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective: To compare the mutation status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) between different lesions and clini-cal characteristics of synchronous multiple ground-glass nodules (SMGGNs). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using clinical data from 35 patients with SMGGNs who were admitted to and received surgery at The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical Uni-versity Hospital from January 2017 to December 2018. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was performed for all surgical specimens to detect the mutation status of exons 18, 19, 20, and 21 of the EGFR gene to analyze the relationship between the EGFR mutation sta-tus of the lesions and patient gender, age, lesion location, imaging manifestation of nodules, and adenocarcinoma pathological type . Results: The EGFR mutation rate was 65.7% (23/35 patients). Non-smoking patients and females had higher EGFR mutation rates (P=0.015, P<0.001). The EGFR mutation rate of invasive adenocarcinoma nodules was higher than those of atypical adenomatous hyper-plasia, adenocarcinoma in situ, and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma ( P<0.001). Exon 19 deletion and L858R mutation were the most common mutations of the EGFR gene. There was no significant difference between the pathological subtypes of adenocarcino-ma and the EGFR mutant subtype (P=0.707). Among the 27 patients with multiple nodules with detectable EGFR mutations, the EGFR mutation rate was 85.2% (23/27 patients). Conclusions: The EGFR gene mutation status is different in patients with multiple pulmo-nary ground-glass nodules, suggesting that the occurrence and development of each nodule are independent events. EGFR gene muta-tion is closely related to the development of ground-glass nodules, especially in the invasion of tumors.

Treatment principle and surgical technique of pulmonary ground glass nodules / 中华肿瘤杂志

Pulmonary ground glass nodule (GGN) is a term of radiological manifestation, which may be malignant or benign. GGN′s imaging performance is diverse, and the management for pulmonary GGN remains controversial. Numerous clinical studies have clarified the safety of GGN follow-up and longer follow-up intervals, stricter surgical or biopsy indications are recommended. In clinical practice, the size of GGN, the size of consolidation, dynamic change during follow-up are the factors that help surgeons to decide the timing of surgery. There are some misunderstandings for the management of GGN, such as the administration of antibiotics, the use of PET-CT, pure GGN adjacent to visceral pleura, and GGN with penetrating vessel. Segmentectomy for ground glass nodules is being accepted by more and more surgeons. Through theoretical study and clinical practice, surgeons can master anatomical segmentectomy.

The clinical value of predicting the invasiveness of pulmonary mixed ground-glass nodules by CT quantitative parameters / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To discuss the value of CT quantitative parameters in prediction of the invasiveness of pulmonary mixed ground glass nodules(mGGNs).Methods:CT images of 164 patients with pulmonary ground-glass nodules(mGGNs),enrolled in Tianjin Medi-cal University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2013 to September 2016,confirmed by surgical pathology were analyzed ret-rospectively.CT quantitative parameters including maximum diameter,largest diameter perpendicular to the maximum diameter,vol-ume on both pulmonary window and mediastinal window,mean CT value and TDR(tumor shadow disappear rate)were evaluated be-tween minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC) with ROC and Logistic regression analysis. Re-sults:Logistic regression analysis showed that the maximum diameter of the pulmonary window(OR=3.080,95% CI:1.135-8.355,P=0.027)and the maximum diameter of the mediastinal window(OR=5.881,95%CI:1.634-21.166,P=0.007)independently predicted the invasiveness of mGGNs;the corresponding values of area under the curve of the combination of two parameters were 0.855,with sen-sitivity of 77.61% and specificity of 86.67 %.The cut-off point to the corresponding value of the maximum diameter on pulmonary win-dow and mediastinal window was 1.902cm and 1.273cm,respectively.Conclusions:CT quantitative parameters are helpful in predict-ing the invasiveness of mGGNs.The maximum diameters on both pulmonary window and mediastinal window are independent predic-tors.

HRCT vascular sign research in tiny ground glass nodules-like lung adenocarcinoma / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To study classification of vascular sign of tiny ground glass nodules-like lung adenocarcinoma in HRCT, and explore its value to differentiate benign from malignant of the ground glass nodules(GGN).Methods 87 patients with tiny ground glass nodules-like lung adenocarcinoma examined on HRCT were retrospectively evaluated.According to the new pathological classification standard of lung adenocarcinoma,they were divided into three groups:(1)pre-invasive group(n=25),including 14 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia(AAH)and 11 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ(AIS);(2)minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA)group(n=35);(3)invasive adenocarcinoma(IAC)group(n=27).The lesions were divided into three types according to the grinding of glass composition proportion:Type A,pure ground glass nodules(pGGN);Type B,mixed ground glass nodules (mGGN)which contained glass composition≥50%;Type C,mGGN which contained glass composition < 50%.The vascular sign of GGN were divided into four types:Type 1,without vessels passing through the GGN,or vessels passing by GGN;Type 2,intact vessels passing through GGN,but vascular morphology is normal;Type 3,single vessels passing through GGN,and distorted,stiff vessels seen within GGN;Type 4,two or more vessels passing through GGN,and branches between vessels formed in GGN,and the diameter of vessel was irregular,partial enlargement.The relationship among the size of the GGN,content of the grinding of glass proportion and the vascular sign of GGN were analyzed both in axial images and reconstruction images.Results There were significant differences in size among the three groups(P=0.032,P=0.000,P=0.000).There were significant differences between content of the grinding of glass proportion and classification of vascular sign of GGN(P=0.000).Type 1 and type 2 vascular sign were dominant in the infiltrating former group,a total of 24 cases(96%).The incidence of type 3 and type 4 vascular sign in MIA group and IAC group was 60% and 74% respectively,and there were significant differences with the infiltrating former group(P=0.000,0.000).Further analysis indicated that type 3 was more commonly seen in MIA with comparison to type 4 which was more likely seen in IAC,the difference was statistically significant(P=0.043).Conclusion To study HRCT vascular sign of tiny ground glass nodules-like lung adenocarcinoma can improve the ability of the GGN benign and malignant diagnosis,provide reliable basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Experts Consensus on the Management of Ground-Glass Nodules Suspected as Lung Adenocarcinoma (Version 1) / 中国肺癌杂志

Background and objective As computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer becomes more common in China, so too does detection of pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs). Although anumber of national or international guidelines about pulmonary GGNs have been published,most of these guidelines are produced by respiratory, oncology or radiology physicians, who might not fully understand the progress of modern minimal invasive thoracic surgery, and these current guidelines may overlook or underestimate the value of thoracic surgery in the management of pulmonary GGNs. In addition, the management for pre-invasive adenocarcinoma is still controversial. Based onthe available literature and experience from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, we composed this consensus about diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary GGNs. For lesions which are considered as adenocarcinoma in situ, chest thin layer CT scan follow-up is recommended and resection can only be adopt in some specific cases and excision should not exceed single segment resection. For lesions which are considered as minimal invasive adenocarcinoma, limited pulmonary resection or lobectomy is recommended. For lesions which are considered as early stage invasive adenocarcinoma, pulmonary resection is recommend and optimal surgical methods depend on whether ground glass component exist, location, volume and number of the lesions and physical status of patients. Principle of management of multiple pulmonary nodules is that primary lesions should be handled with priority, with secondary lesions taking into account.
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Contrast analysis on spiral CT and pathological findings of sub-centimetre pulmonary ground glass nodules / 局解手术学杂志

Objective To compare the spiral CT and pathological findings of sub-centimetre pulmonary ground glass nodules(GGNs), and to improve the aaccuracy in early diagnosis.Methods The CT findings and pathologic features of 30 patients with sub-centimetre pulmo-nary GGNs in our hospital from May 2013 to June 2016 were reviewed retrospectively.The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their pathological classification,namely the benign group,the preinvasive group and the invasive group.The shape,size,margin,vacuole sign, pleural indentation,the relations with bronchi and blood vessels of the pulmonary GGNs were analyzed.Results There was no significant difference in shape,maximum diameter and margin between the benign group and the other two groups(P>0.05).Adjacent vessels changes of the lesion showed significant differences between benign group and preinvasive or invasive groups(P<0.05).And there were significant differences in size,pleural indentation,vacuole sign and adjacent vessels changes between the preinvasive group and the invasive group(P<0.05).Conclusion The comprehensive analysis of lesions size,vacuole sign,pleural indentation and adjacent vessels changes can be helpful to improve the aaccuracy of differential diagnosis on sub-centimetre pulmonary ground glass nodules.