[Recent advances in diagnosis of pulmonary nodule]

Abstract

With the popularization of health screening and the widespread use of low-dose computed tomography, the detection rate of lung nodules has increased year after year. However, the false positive rates testified by surgery of these lung nodules are still high. Therefore, it is vital in clinical practice to avoid overtreatment or undertreatment. But a series of problems on how to make an accurate diagnosis, how to reduce the psychological pressure of patients and follow up with regular imaging, how to clarify the indications for surgery and adopt the most minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment methods, etc. remain unsolved. Over the past decade, the diagnostic techniques for pulmonary nodules have improved significantly, including imaging progress such as the optimization of traditional imaging techniques (CT, MRI) and the emergence of new technologies (radiomics, artificial intelligence). In addition, histological improvements including percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy, bronchoscopy, and minimally invasive surgical biopsy, etc. have brought more reliable and precise options for characterization of pulmonary nodules.