Longitudinal Growth Patterns and Diagnostic Challenges of Biopsy-Confirmed Pulmonary Tumors Detected on Low-Dose CT: A 10-Year Analysis

Abstract

Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has transformed lung cancer screening by enabling detection of small pulmonary tumors before symptoms develop. However, the increased identification of indeterminate pulmonary nodules has created a major diagnostic challenge: not all growing lesions are malignant, and not all malignant tumors demonstrate rapid or predictable growth. Longitudinal assessment of pulmonary tumors therefore requires careful interpretation of imaging behavior, clinical context, and pathological confirmation. This review, titled Longitudinal Growth Patterns and Diagnostic Challenges of Biopsy-Confirmed Pulmonary Tumors Detected on Low-Dose CT: A 10-Year Analysis, examines how tumor biology, radiologic morphology, and follow-up imaging interact in the evaluation of biopsy-confirmed pulmonary lesions. Part 1 focuses on the clinical importance of LDCT, the biological basis of tumor growth, and the limitations of conventional growth-based malignancy assessment.