Ground Glass Nodule

Posted by judyaw @judyaw, 2 days ago

My husband received the interpretation of a CT scan. It said there's a 7mm benign ground glass nodule in his right middle lobe. Being that the word "benign" is used, my first thought is that it's not cancer. Then I read other information about ground glass nodules and how it can be (and often is) a precursor to lung cancer....usually adenocarcinoma. He has an appointment with the pulmonary doctor, but until then, what can anyone tell me about this. Is it really benign now but can turn into a malignancy? Is there anything to do now, or just have another scan in 6 months? Could a biopsy be needed now?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | 2 days ago

@judyaw These findings always sound scary to the patient and their family, but are merely one piece of the diagnostic puzzle. The fact that the radiologist deemed it benign is very encouraging.

Here are a few things o think about - has he had a recent lung infection? These nodules may show up after an infection, and ither stay the same or diminish over time.
Was this an incidental finding on a CT for other diagnosis, or is the pulmonologist looking for something?
Finally, when is the appointment? A wait of a few weeks may be anxiety-producing, but if there is a strong suspicion of cancer, they woukd be seeing sooner.

Try to take a deep breath, and wait to hear what the doctor will say, worrying won' do you or your husband good.

denzie | @denzie | 1 day ago

Only about 15-18% GGNs turn solid and become malignancies. I have GGNs that were diagnosed in 2010 that are unchanged 14 years later.

Do stay on top of the regular screening CTs. I'm glad you're not ignoring them.

GGOs are semisolid and cannot be biopsied by needle. If there is something about their appearance that indicates to the doctors it's a possible malignancy they will offer to to a wedge resection.

If it was to turn completely solid tomorrow, it would be too small to biopsy. A nodule needs to be at least 1 cm (10mm) to be accurately biopsied. Anything smaller might be missed and a false negative found.

I hope this helps.