title: Effect of lung volume and gravity on the attenuation and size of a pure ground-glass nodule.
abstract: Detecting potentially malignant changes in a pure ground-glass nodule (GGN) is challenging. The development of a solid component is a known sign, which may help in differentiating benign from malignant GGN. We report the case of a 58-year-old man presenting with a pure GGN in the posterior segment of the right lower lobe. Follow-up computed tomographic scan after 1 year showed marked increase in attenuation (from -319 HU to +27 HU), whereas the average size of the nodule decreased (from 7 to 4.7 mm). On a computed tomographic scan in the prone position the nodule seemed larger (7.8 mm) and appeared as a pure GGN (-406 HU). Such changes were attributed to the reduction of lung volume and gravity.
authors: Clinique Universitaire de Radiologie et Imagerie Médicale, CHU Grenoble, Grenoble, France. gferretti@chu-grenoble.fr
authors: Gilbert R
authors: GR
authors: Ferretti
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Arbib
authors: Jean François
authors: JF
authors: Roux
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Bland
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Lantuejoul
mesh_terms: D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016683:Supine Position; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*