title: Correlation between the size of the solid component on thin-section CT and the invasive component on pathology in small lung adenocarcinomas manifesting as ground-glass nodules.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to evaluate the correlation between the size of the solid component on thin-section computed tomography (CT) and invasive component on pathology in small lung adenocarcinomas manifesting as subsolid nodules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nine subsolid nodules in 58 patients were evaluated. The maximum diameters of subsolid nodules and the solid component on CT were measured by two radiologists in three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) planes using in-house software. In addition, the maximum diameters of the tumor and invasive component were measured on pathology by two pathologists. CT measurements were compared with pathologic measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a strong correlation between the size of the solid component on CT and invasive component on pathology, as well as the size of subsolid nodules and the tumor size (r = 0.82-0.87 for 3D measurement, 0.72-0.88 for 2D measurement; p < 0.0001). The size of subsolid nodules in 3D and 2D measurements was significantly larger than tumor size (p < 0.0001). In regard to measurement of the solid component, 3D measurements tended to be larger than the size of the invasive component whereas 2D measurement tended to be similar to the size of the invasive component. By applying a size criteria of solid component that was 3 mm or lesser in maximum diameter, preinvasive and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma was predicted with a specificity of 100% (28 of 28).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a significant correlation between the size of the solid component on thin-section CT and the invasive component on pathology.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea; †Cencer research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; ‡Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; §Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea; and ‖Department of Pathology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yeonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Mo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goo
authors.forename: Sang Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wi
authors.forename: Doo Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Heounjeong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: Heae Surng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chang Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*