title: The long-term course of ground-glass opacities detected on thin-section computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Focal ground-glass opacity (GGO) is becoming a major concern because of its possible association with lung cancer. In this study, we analyzed the long-term progression of GGOs that persisted for more than 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed focal GGOs identified by thin-section computed tomography that persisted for more than 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled a total of 114 patients with 175 GGO lesions. The median patient age was 61 years (range, 37-92 years) and 42 (36.8%) patients were male. Mean initial GGO size was 7.8 ± 4.4 mm. Median follow-up duration was 45 months. Forty-six (26.3%) GGOs had significant size increases (≥2 mm in the longest diameter) with a mean volume doubling time of 1041 days. In a multivariate analysis, large size (≥10 mm), the presence of a solid portion (mixed GGO) and old age (≥65 years) were risk factors for significant size increase, with odds ratios (95% CI) of 6.46 (2.69-15.6), 2.69 (1.11-6.95) and 2.55 (1.13-5.77), respectively. GGOs with character changes from pure to mixed or mixed to solid showed more rapid volume expansion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GGOs which persisted for several years showed an indolent course. Large lesions with a solid portion and GGOs in male or elderly individuals may be cause for more concern, as these factors were associated with size increase. Resection should be considered if GGOs show character changes, as these may be associated with rapid size progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sei Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Cho-Sun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Leem
authors.forename: Tae Jung
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Haeng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Sanghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jheon
authors.forename: Jae-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Choon-Taek
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods