Long-Term Study Finds Growth in Pure Ground-Glass Nodules After a Decade
A study by Professor Sang-Won Um and Fellow Hyun-Seung Nam of the Department of Pulmonology at Samsung Medical Center, along with Professor Bo-Guen Kim from Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, has been published in the latest issue of CHEST (IF=9.5). The study represents the longest follow-up analysis of pure ground-glass nodules in the lungs ever reported globally.
Ground-glass nodules refer to hazy, translucent areas under 3 cm in size observed on chest CT scans, resembling frosted glass. Depending on factors such as the size and density of the nodule at the time of initial discovery, periodic follow-up over 3–5 years is typically recommended. If no significant changes are detected, monitoring is often discontinued.
The research team analyzed 135 pure ground-glass nodules detected in 89 patients who underwent low-dose chest CT scans at Samsung Medical Center between June 1997 and September 2006. The nodules were followed until July 2022, and growth was observed in 23 of the 135 nodules.
Notably, three nodules exhibited growth after 10 years of stability. This is the first time that pure ground-glass nodules have been shown to remain stable for a decade before demonstrating size changes. Professor Sang-Won Um highlighted that this long-term study reaffirms the exceptionally slow and latent growth patterns of pure GGOs. He underscored the importance of long-term, consistent monitoring to ensure effective management of these lesions.