Long-Term Follow-up of Small Pulmonary Ground-Glass Nodules Stable for 3 Years: Implications of the Proper Follow-up Period and Risk Factors for Subsequent Growth.
How long persistent and stable ground-glass nodules (GGNs) should be followed is uncertain, although a minimum of 3 years is suggested. Here, we evaluated a group of GGNs that had remained stable for an initial period of 3 years with the aim of determining the proportion of GGNs showing subsequent growth after the initial 3 years and identifying the clinical and radiologic factors associated with subsequent growth.



We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent further computed tomography (CT) after the initial 3-year follow-up period showing a persistent and stable GGN (at least 5 years of follow-up from the initial CT).



Between May 2003 and June 2015, 453 GGNs (438 pure GGNs and 15 part-solid GGNs) were found in 218 patients. Of the 218 patients, 14 had 15 GGNs showing subsequent growth after the initial 3 years during the median follow-up period of 6.4 years. For the person-based analysis, the frequency of subsequent growth of GGNs that had been stable during the initial 3 years was 6.7% (14 of 218). For the nodule-based analysis, the frequency was 3.3% (15 of 453). In a multivariate analysis, age 65 years or older (OR = 5.51, p = 0.012), history of lung cancer (OR = 6.44, p = 0.006), initial size 8 mm or larger (OR = 5.74, p = 0.008), presence of a solid component (OR = 16.58, p = 0.009), and air bronchogram (OR = 5.83, p = 0.015) were independent risk factors for subsequent GGN growth.



For the individuals with GGNs having the aforementioned risk factors, the longer follow-up period is required to confirm subsequent GGN growth.
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Jaeyoung
J
Cho
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Eun Sun
ES
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Se Joong
SJ
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Yeon Joo
YJ
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Jong Sun
JS
Park
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Young-Jae
YJ
Cho
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Ho Il
HI
Yoon
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Jae Ho
JH
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ctlee@snu.ac.kr.
Choon-Taek
CT
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Computed tomography; Follow-up; Ground-glass nodule; Growth