Is surgery required for a 7mm ground-glass nodule?

In general, whether a 7mm ground-glass nodule requires surgery primarily depends on the nature of the nodule. Benign ground-glass nodules usually do not require surgical intervention, whereas malignant ones are typically recommended for surgical treatment. If any discomfort occurs, prompt medical consultation is advised. The detailed analysis is as follows:

Ground-glass nodules refer to round or oval-shaped lesions appearing as hazy,磨砂 glass-like areas of increased density on lung CT scans. Benign ground-glass nodules are commonly caused by non-malignant factors such as pulmonary inflammation, hemorrhage, or local fibrosis. These nodules tend to have regular shapes, well-defined margins, uniform density, and slow growth rates, posing no direct threat to the patient's life or health. In such cases, conservative management under medical guidance with medications such as isoniazid tablets, rifampicin tablets, and aspirin tablets is considered a more appropriate approach, and there is no need for immediate surgical intervention.

Malignant ground-glass nodules may originate from malignant tumors such as lung cancer. On imaging, these nodules often exhibit irregular shapes, blurred margins, heterogeneous density, and rapid growth, indicating aggressive behavior. They can invade surrounding healthy tissues and potentially metastasize through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, posing a serious threat to the patient’s life and health. Therefore, once a nodule is highly suspected or confirmed to be malignant, early surgical intervention is recommended to completely remove the lesion and prevent further tumor progression and spread.

Routine lung health check-ups should be performed regularly. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle—including a balanced diet, moderate exercise, smoking cessation, and limited alcohol consumption—can help strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of developing lung diseases.