A hazy lung X-ray transforming into a field of blooming flowers.

Ground-Glass Opacity in Lung Cancer: What It Means for Your Prognosis

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how ground-glass opacity (GGO) on CT scans can indicate a favorable prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma, even when invasive."

Lung adenocarcinoma, known for its diverse microscopic appearances, is increasingly detected early thanks to improved CT scanning for lung cancer screening. A key finding on these scans is ground-glass opacity (GGO), a hazy area in the lung that can represent different stages of the disease.

While GGO is often linked to non-aggressive forms of adenocarcinoma, like adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), it can also appear in more invasive cancers. This raises important questions about the best treatment approach, particularly whether less extensive surgery (sublobar resection) is sufficient.

This article will break down the significance of GGO in invasive adenocarcinoma, drawing on recent research to clarify its impact on prognosis and treatment strategies. We'll explore when a sublobar resection might be enough, offering clarity for patients and their families.

GGO: Not Always What It Seems—Invasive Adenocarcinoma and Its Prognosis

A hazy lung X-ray transforming into a field of blooming flowers.

Traditionally, GGO on a CT scan suggests a predominantly lepidic component, indicative of AIS or MIA. This often leads surgeons to consider sublobar resection—a more limited surgery than lobectomy—to preserve lung function. However, some invasive adenocarcinomas also present with GGO, creating a diagnostic and treatment dilemma.

To understand this better, researchers conducted a retrospective review of 191 patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer that appeared as GGO-predominant tumors on CT scans. All patients underwent curative resection, allowing the team to analyze the specific histologic subtypes and components of these tumors.

Of the 191 patients, 97 had AIS or MIA, while 94 were diagnosed with invasive adenocarcinoma.
In the invasive adenocarcinoma group, the average proportion of the lepidic component was 47.4%, the acinar component was 42.1%, and the papillary component was 7.3%. Micropapillary and solid components were rare.
Importantly, the 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 100% for both sublobar resection and lobectomy in patients with invasive adenocarcinoma presenting as GGO.

These findings indicate that even when invasive components like acinar and papillary patterns are present in GGO tumors, a good prognosis can be expected after sublobar resection. This suggests that the presence of GGO may indicate a less aggressive form of invasive adenocarcinoma.

Key Takeaways: What This Means for You

This research offers reassuring news for patients diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma presenting as GGO. It suggests that even if the tumor proves to be invasive, the presence of GGO is associated with a favorable prognosis.

The study supports the use of sublobar resection as an effective treatment option in these cases, potentially minimizing the impact on lung function without compromising survival. This highlights the importance of carefully evaluating CT scans and considering the specific characteristics of the tumor when planning treatment.

While these findings are promising, it's crucial to discuss your individual case with your medical team. They can assess your specific situation and determine the most appropriate course of action based on the latest evidence and your unique health profile.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.21037/jtd.2017.09.40, Alternate LINK

Title: The Prognosis Of Invasive Adenocarcinoma Presenting As Ground-Glass Opacity On Chest Computed Tomography After Sublobar Resection

Subject: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Journal: Journal of Thoracic Disease

Publisher: AME Publishing Company

Authors: Youngkyu Moon, Kyo Young Lee, Jae Kil Park

Published: 2017-10-01

Everything You Need To Know

What does ground-glass opacity (GGO) mean in the context of lung cancer, and how does it affect my prognosis?

Ground-glass opacity (GGO) refers to hazy areas observed on CT scans of the lungs. In the context of lung adenocarcinoma, the presence of GGO, even in invasive forms, often suggests a better prognosis. This means the cancer is likely to be less aggressive and more responsive to treatment, leading to improved outcomes for patients.

What are the different types of lung adenocarcinoma, and how does ground-glass opacity (GGO) relate to their microscopic appearance?

Lung adenocarcinoma has diverse microscopic appearances. When ground-glass opacity (GGO) is detected, it often indicates a predominantly lepidic component, which is characteristic of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA). However, GGO can also be present in invasive adenocarcinomas, where components like acinar and papillary patterns may be observed. The key is the proportion and type of these components within the GGO.

What is sublobar resection, and when is it an appropriate treatment option for invasive adenocarcinoma presenting as ground-glass opacity (GGO)?

Sublobar resection is a surgical procedure that removes only a portion of the lung, unlike lobectomy, which removes an entire lobe. The research indicates that in cases of invasive adenocarcinoma presenting as ground-glass opacity (GGO), sublobar resection can be as effective as lobectomy. Both procedures demonstrated 100% 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates in the study, suggesting that less extensive surgery may be sufficient for these particular tumors.

If my lung adenocarcinoma shows ground-glass opacity (GGO), does that mean the cancer is less aggressive, even if it's invasive?

The presence of ground-glass opacity (GGO) in lung adenocarcinoma suggests that the tumor has a less aggressive nature. Even when invasive components like acinar and papillary patterns are present, the favorable prognosis associated with GGO remains. This finding challenges traditional assumptions and implies that the extent of surgical resection can potentially be reduced without compromising patient outcomes.

Can you explain the details of the study that looked at ground-glass opacity (GGO) in lung cancer, and what were the key findings regarding treatment and survival rates?

The study reviewed 191 patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer, specifically those with ground-glass opacity (GGO)-predominant tumors on CT scans. Of these patients, 97 had adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), while 94 had invasive adenocarcinoma. The invasive adenocarcinoma group showed an average composition of 47.4% lepidic, 42.1% acinar, and 7.3% papillary components. Notably, both sublobar resection and lobectomy resulted in 100% 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) in the invasive adenocarcinoma group, highlighting the effectiveness of sublobar resection in appropriately selected patients.