CT scan might help predict invasiveness of ground-glass nodules

The invasiveness of ground-glass nodules (GGN) appears to be associated with their mean computed tomography (CT) value, a recent meta-analysis has found. This finding points to a potential prognostic value of CT scans in patients with GGNs.

Drawing from the online databases of Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, Wanfang, SinoMed, CNKI, and VIP, the researchers retrieved 13 studies yielding a total of 1,564 GGNs. The main outcome of interest was the predictive value of mean CT value for GGN invasiveness.

Pooled analysis of six studies found that CT was a good predictor of GGN invasiveness, with a sensitivity and specificity value of 0.75 (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.61–0.85) and 0.81 (95 percent CI, 0.74–0.86), respectively. This group of studies yielded a positive and negative likelihood ratio of 3.9 and 0.31, respectively.

A similar result was reported when the eight remaining studies were assessed. The obtained diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was 0.78 (95 percent CI, 0.66–0.86) and 0.81 (95 percent CI, 0.68–0.89), respectively. Corresponding positive and negative likelihood ratios were 4.0 and 0.28.

Deek’s funnel plot was used to assess the degree of publication bias. P-values were 0.95 in the first group of six studies and 0.09 in the second set of eight papers, overall suggesting that there was no clear publication bias.

“The mean CT value may serve as an independent predictive factor for the invasiveness of GGN, thereby providing a good surgical treatment guide in patients diagnosed with lung cancer,” the researchers said.