Early precise screening of pulmonary nodules: risk factor analysis for malignant nodules.

Objectives: To analyze clinical data and CT imaging characteristics of patients with pulmonary nodules, clarifying the diagnostic value of CT features in distinguishing benign from malignant pulmonary nodules. To enhance diagnostic accuracy for pulmonary nodule characterization, assisting clinicians in diagnosis and providing optimal treatment recommendations.

Methods: This retrospective study included 200 individuals who underwent dual-source CT lung cancer screening at the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from January 2023 to December 2023. Participants were categorized into benign and malignant groups based on pathological reports, with 102 cases in the benign group and 98 in the malignant group. Postoperative pathological outcomes were documented, and risk factors for lung cancer were analyzed, stratifying results by pathology and infiltration level.

Results: Patients in the malignant group had significantly higher NICAp and CTAp values than those in the benign group (all P < 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy of chest CT for identifying benign vs. malignant nodules was 88.78%, with a sensitivity of 44.90% and a specificity of 57.84%. CT examination positivity was 42.16% in the benign group and 44.90% in the malignant group. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified NICAp (95% CI 1.045-1.367; P = 0.007), CTAp (95% CI 1.341-4.123; P = 0.005), solid nodule (95% CI 1.198-2.978; P = 0.008), and nodule density (95% CI 1.128-2.987; P = 0.007) as independent diagnostic factors for malignant nodules.

Conclusion: NICAp, CTAp, solid nodule, and nodule density are independent diagnostic factors for malignant pulmonary nodules.