When a ground glass nodule (opacity) is suspicious for malignancy a wedge resection is usually the preferred method of biopsy. GGO/GGNs are subsolid and cannot be easily biopsied otherwise. A needle biopsy is most likely to yield a false negative.

Currently, I am dealing with GGOs that are becoming part solid. Like spiculations, this often indicates that it is becoming malignant. (95% of GGOs are benign). My oncologist and my second opinion oncologist both took my case to their respective Tumor Boards, both suggested wedge resection but also said it might get be risky due to damage from previous treatment. I opted to wait for this to become solid enough to perform a needle biopsy or an EBUS.

Surgery is the gold standard in lung cancer treatment. If caught early enough it gives the patient the best chance for complete cure.