Part solid lung nodule

Last revised by Liz Silverstone on 31 Jan 2024

A part-solid lung nodule (PSN) is a subtype of subsolid lung nodule. The term refers to a ground-glass nodule which contains one or more solid components with attenuation similar to a pulmonary vessel on non-contrast CT. High-resolution CT is necessary for analysis and AI promises improved characterization.

Around one quarter of PSNs are inflammatory and resolve on follow-up imaging 11. Ill-defined foci of infection or inflammation may contain a solitary solid component 12. Persistent part-solid nodules are commonly malignant 11 but may be indolent and require extended follow-up for 5 years or more. Li reports that malignant PSNs tend to be well-defined, lobulated and contain irregular scattered solid components 12. The risk of malignancy increases with nodule size.

A ground-glass nodule that develops a solid component suggests development of an invasive component in an adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinomas presenting as PSNs may grow more slowly than those presenting as ground-glass nodules, however they may show progressively increased attenuation 13, 14. The nodule may even undergo a paradoxical temporary decrease in size as the invasive solid component develops

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