PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Larici, Anna Rita
AU  - Farchione, Alessandra
AU  - Franchi, Paola
AU  - Ciliberto, Mario
AU  - Cicchetti, Giuseppe
AU  - Calandriello, Lucio
AU  - del Ciello, Annemilia
AU  - Bonomo, Lorenzo
TI  - Lung nodules: size still matters
AID  - 10.1183/16000617.0025-2017
DP  - 2017 Dec 31
TA  - European Respiratory Review
PG  - 170025
VI  - 26
IP  - 146
4099  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/26/146/170025.short
4100  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/26/146/170025.full
SO  - EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW2017 Dec 31; 26
AB  - The incidence of indeterminate pulmonary nodules has risen constantly over the past few years. Determination of lung nodule malignancy is pivotal, because the early diagnosis of lung cancer could lead to a definitive intervention. According to the current international guidelines, size and growth rate represent the main indicators to determine the nature of a pulmonary nodule. However, there are some limitations in evaluating and characterising nodules when only their dimensions are taken into account. There is no single method for measuring nodules, and intrinsic errors, which can determine variations in nodule measurement and in growth assessment, do exist when performing measurements either manually or with automated or semi-automated methods. When considering subsolid nodules the presence and size of a solid component is the major determinant of malignancy and nodule management, as reported in the latest guidelines. Nevertheless, other nodule morphological characteristics have been associated with an increased risk of malignancy. In addition, the clinical context should not be overlooked in determining the probability of malignancy. Predictive models have been proposed as a potential means to overcome the limitations of a sized-based assessment of the malignancy risk for indeterminate pulmonary nodules.Size and growth rate remain the main determinants of nodule management http://ow.ly/mtDB30gugUg