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Citation:
Weerakkody Y, Silverstone L, Sharma R, et al. Part solid lung nodule. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-22178
A part-solid lung nodule (PSN) is a subtype of subsolid lung nodule. The term refers to a ground-glass nodule which contains one or more solid components with attenuation similar to a pulmonary vessel on non-contrast CT. High-resolution CT is necessary for analysis and AI promises improved characterization.
Around one quarter of PSNs are inflammatory and resolve on follow-up imaging 11. Ill-defined foci of infection or inflammation may contain a solitary solid component 12. Persistent part-solid nodules are commonly malignant 11 but may be indolent and require extended follow-up for 5 years or more. Li reports that malignant PSNs tend to be well-defined, lobulated and contain irregular scattered solid components 12. The risk of malignancy increases with nodule size.
A ground-glass nodule that develops a solid component suggests development of an invasive component in an adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinomas presenting as PSNs may grow more slowly than those presenting as ground-glass nodules, however they may show progressively increased attenuation 13, 14. The nodule may even undergo a paradoxical temporary decrease in size as the invasive solid component develops
Follow up recommendations
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13. de Margerie-Mellon C, Ngo L, Gill R et al. The Growth Rate of Subsolid Lung Adenocarcinoma Nodules at Chest CT. Radiology. 2020;297(1):189-98. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020192322 - Pubmed
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