Quantification of ground-glass opacity on high-resolution CT of small peripheral adenocarcinoma of the lung: Pathologic and prognostic implications

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to correlate the high-resolution CT findings of small peripheral adenocarcinoma of the lung with underlying histopathology and to evaluate the prognostic implications of the CT findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The high-resolution CT findings of small peripheral adenocarcinoma of the lung in 224 patients were analyzed by two independent observers for location, size, marginal characteristics, and extent of ground-glass opacity and necrosis. The pathologic specimens were reviewed by an experienced lung pathologist. RESULTS. One hundred and thirty-two patients had bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and 92 had adenocarcinoma. The extent of ground-glass opacity was greater in bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (mean +/- SD, 29% +/- 31.6%) than in other adenocarcinomas (8% +/- 13.3%) (p < 0.001). The extent of ground-glass opacity was significantly greater in patients without recurrence (p = 0.020) and those without nodal (p = 0.017) or distant (p = 0.007) metastases than in patients with nodal or distant metastases or in whom the carcinoma had recurred. CONCLUSION. The extent of ground-glass opacity in a nodule is greater in bronchioloalveolar carcinomas than in other adenocarcinomas. Greater extent of ground-glass opacity also correlates with improved prognosis.