The diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer presented as ground-glass nodule

Pulmonary nodules that manifest as ground-glass opacity are particularly challenging on account of their malignant potential and heterogeneous characteristics. The "ground-glass nodule-like" lung cancer is different from the conventional lung cancer. This review focuses on the radiologic and pathologic classifications of ground-glass nodules, along with the staging and clinical management of these lesions. In addition, we discuss the lung cancer high-risk population shift and follow-up of ground-glass nodules in the light of experience from screening trials. The standard of care surgical treatment of early lung cancer is still lobectomy with systematic lymph node dissection. However, a recent research has shown that some ground-glass nodules may be treated with sublobar resections or non-surgical treatment; these findings may expand the treatment options available in the future.