Focal area of ground-glass opacity and ground-glass opacity predominance on thin-section CT: discrimination between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To reveal differences in thin-section computed tomography (CT) findings between lung neoplastic lesions and non-neoplastic lesions, which showed a focal area of ground-glass opacity or ground-glass opacity predominance.


METHODS
A total of 82 focal areas of ground-glass opacity and ground-glass opacity predominance, consisting of 38 neoplastic and 44 non-neoplastic lesions, were assessed retrospectively regarding their thin-section CT findings.


RESULTS
The frequency of wholly well-defined margin (p=0.001), spiculation (p=0.019), pleural indentation (p=0.016), air bronchograms (p=0.027), air-containing space (p=0.004) was significantly higher in neoplastic lesions than in non-neoplastic lesions. Thirty-four of 38 (89%) neoplastic lesions were well-defined in more than 50% of the circumference, of which nine had an air-containing space other than air bronchogram, whereas only one non-neoplastic lesion had these features.


CONCLUSIONS
A focal area of ground-glass opacity or ground-glass opacity predominance with a well-defined margin and air-containing space is more likely to be a neoplasm.
Nambu
A
A
Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, Nakakoma-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. nambu-a@gray.plala.or.jp
Araki
T
T
Taguchi
Y
Y
Ozawa
K
K
Miyata
K
K
Miyazawa
M
M
Hiejima
Y
Y
Saito
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*