What does a ground-glass nodule in the lung mean?
Oct 17, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Li Jingli
Introduction
In general, ground-glass nodules in the lungs may indicate old pulmonary lesions, pneumonia, tuberculosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, or lung tumors. Patients are advised to follow medical instructions for symptomatic treatment. Old pulmonary lesions refer to areas of lung tissue that have lost function due to fibrous tissue formation after prior infection or injury, which may appear as described above on imaging studies.
In general, ground-glass nodules in the lungs may indicate old pulmonary lesions, pneumonia, tuberculosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, or lung tumors. Patients are advised to follow medical instructions for symptomatic treatment. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Old Pulmonary Lesions
Old pulmonary lesions refer to non-functional tissue formed by fibrous scarring after prior infection or injury. During imaging examinations, such changes may appear as ground-glass nodules. If patients do not experience any symptoms, regular follow-up examinations are usually sufficient.
2. Pneumonia
When patients suffer from pneumonia caused by bacterial, viral, or chlamydial infections, lung tissues may become damaged and alveolar spaces may fill with fluid, leading to ground-glass nodules on imaging. Under medical guidance, patients may be treated with medications such as salbutamol sulfate tablets, ribavirin tablets, and ibuprofen sustained-release capsules.
3. Tuberculosis
Pulmonary tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When the lungs are infected by mycobacteria, fluid exudation, hemorrhage, and increased local tissue density can lead to the formation of ground-glass nodules. Patients may be treated under medical supervision with drugs such as isoniazid tablets, rifampicin tablets, and pyrazinamide tablets.
4. Interstitial Lung Fibrosis
Interstitial lung fibrosis is a disease primarily affecting the lung interstitium. Such patients may also present with ground-glass nodules during imaging studies. Under medical guidance, treatment options may include cefuroxime axetil granules, pirfenidone tablets, and nintedanib esylate soft capsules.
5. Lung Tumors
Lung tumors refer to neoplasms occurring in the lung parenchyma or interstitium, potentially associated with long-term smoking, air pollution, ionizing radiation, and other factors. Patients with lung tumors may also show ground-glass nodules on imaging. Treatment under medical supervision may involve medications such as paclitaxel injection, cisplatin injection, and gefitinib tablets.
If patients experience any symptoms, they should promptly seek medical attention for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment to avoid disease progression.
