Clinical value of CT imaging features to predict infiltration degree and pathological subtype of ground glass lung adenocarcinoma

Background: to test the value of computed tomography (ct) features in predicting the infiltration degree and pathological subtype of ground glass lung adenocarcinoma (≤ 3 cm). materials and methods: data from 412 lung adenocarcinoma patients with mixed ground glass nodules on ct from jan. 2017 to dec. 2021 were tested retrospectively. the patients were separated by the infiltrating degree into a minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (mia) group and an invasive adenocarcinoma (iac) group. then the iac group was subdivided into low-, medium- and high-risk groups by the prognosis differences among subtypes, which were of lepidic, papillary, and micropapillary predominance respectively. results: average diameter of nodules, average ct value, solid component ratio, lobe sign, and burr sign were independent risk factors of iac. the average diameter of nodules ≥ 12.5 mm, solid component ratio ≥ 20.96%, average ct value ≥ -473.07 hu, positive lobe sign and positive burr sign indicated the nodules were more likely iac. average ct value, and solid component ratio were independent risk factors for the high-risk pathological type of lung adenocarcinoma. the average ct value ≥ -242.92 hu and solid component ratio ≥ 69.536% indicated nodules were more likely the high-risk pathological type of lung adenocarcinoma. conclusion: ct imaging features improve the diagnostic efficacy of ground glass nodules, and have certain clinical value.