Presentation
Incidental finding on chest CT.
Patient Data
Small ground glass nodule of the right upper lobe.
The nodule is now visible on frontal chest radiograph.
The nodule is now slightly larger and more solid.
Interval increase in size of the RUL nodule, which has become more solid. It demonstrates central lucencies which could represent necrosis.
Increased FDG uptake in the nodule.
Case Discussion
This case shows the natural history of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, from its start as a ground glass nodule, demonstrating initially the pre-invasive stage from atypical adenomatous hyperplasia to adenocarcinoma in situ, and then the stage of invasive adenocarcinoma which appears as a more solid nodule.
Pathologically-proven adenocarcinoma.