Surgical Management of Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Presenting As a Pure Ground-glass Nodule

Objectives: With recent advances in radiology, the detection of ground-glass nodules (GGNs) has become increasingly common. However, there still is no consensus on management, especially on the need for systemic lymph node (LN) dissection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes on the basis of the extent of resection of the primary lesion and mediastinal LN dissection and to carefully suggest appropriate treatment strategies in the patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma presenting as pure ground-glass opacities.

Methods: From January 2006 to December 2010, 1267 patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma, including adenocarcinoma in situ, underwent curative-intent surgical resection. Among these patients, pure GGNs were confirmed in 48 patients on preoperative chest computed tomography (CT) by an experienced radiologist, and 42 underwent systemic LN dissection or sampling. We retrospectively reviewed the perioperative data and postoperative outcomes.

Results: The median age of the patients was 56 (range, 35-78) years, and 26 (54.2%) patients were male. The median size of the nodules was 12 (5-30) mm, and 8 (16.7%) had multiple lesions at the time of operation. The median duration between the initial diagnosis and operation was 4 (0-45) months. Preoperative positron emission tomography/CT was taken in 36 (75.0%) patients, which showed no significant metabolic uptake. For curative resection, lobectomy was performed in 32 (66.7%) patients, segmentectomy in 4, and wedge resection in 12. Clear resection margins were reported in all patients. Forty-two patients underwent systemic mediastinal LN dissection or sampling, and the median number of dissected LNs was 23 (7-53). No LN was reported as positive for malignancy. The median follow-up duration after the first operation was 39 (23-77) months, and there were no cases of late mortality, local recurrence or nodal recurrence. Recurrent GGNs have been developed in 6 (12.5%) patients.

Conclusions: For pure GGNs, limited resection can be performed when complete resection is obtained, as it was sufficient for cure and especially because there is high probability of multiple lesions. We were unable to demonstrate any additional therapeutic benefit with mediastinal LN dissection in patients with pure GGNs.