Quantitative assessment of the dynamics of lung lesion growth as a criterion for differential diagnosis of malignant pathology

   The aim of the study: to conduct a comparative analysis and evaluate the significance of quantitative growth dynamics parameters for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lung lesions up to 20 mm in size.

   Material and methods. From 2022 to 2025, 170 patients with lung lesions ≤ 20 mm and verified morphological diagnosis were recruited. Dynamic growth assessment was performed in 72 patients before morphological verification. Based on CT data, the maximum increase in diameter per unit of observed time was calculated, and the diameter doubling time was calculated using the Schwartz formula for calculating VDT (volume doubling time), where the diameter of the lesion was used instead of a unit of volume. Patients were divided into two groups: Group C (malignant, n = 40) and Group D (benign, n = 32). Within the groups, subgroups were identified with documented growth (C+, B+) and without it (C-, B-). Student's t-test was used to compare quantitative parameters between groups C+ and D+.

   Results and discussion. Growth was observed in 23 (57,5 %) patients in group C and in 15 (46,9 %) patients in group D. The average follow-up time was 12,7 months in group C+ and 6.6 months in group D+. The average diameter doubling time was 29,66 in group C+ and 31,10 in group D+. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups (t = 0,19; p = 0,85).

   Conclusions. Quantitative parameters of growth dynamics (diameter increase and diameter doubling time) did not reveal statistically significant differences between malignant and benign small lung tumors and cannot be used as an independent criterion for differential diagnosis.

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