Multiple pulmonary ground-glass nodules: Challenges and advances

Abstract

Abstract Multiple pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs), a typical clinical manifestation of multiple primary lung cancers (MPLCs), are of great significance for the early screening, diagnosis, and accurate treatment of lung cancer. Thus, the recent increase in the detection rate of multiple pulmonary GGNs has attracted much attention. However, compared with the more widely studied single GGNs, evaluating GGNs is more challenging because of the uncertainty of the etiology, difficult differential diagnosis, and lack of optimal management standards and guidelines. Most current solutions for multiple GGNs are based on the management experiences and principles of a single GGN. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain better understanding of multiple GGNs and to optimize the diagnostic methods and treatments. Both the existing challenges and potential of new methods for diagnosing and treating multiple pulmonary GGNs are reviewed and discussed in this article, with the aim of providing a reference for the clinical management of this highly prevalent condition.