Successful Application of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Analysis of Invasive Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Less Than 6 mm in Size: A Case Report and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION

Screening of lung nodules helps on early diagnosis of lung cancer, especially invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied in diagnosis of cancers. We used the AI-assisted lung nodule diagnostic system in the screening of lung nodules and lung cancer.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old male complained of coughs and nodules in the right lung of 3-year duration. A ground-glass opacity was found in the right upper lung by routine computed tomography (CT). He had no family history of cancer, genetic diseases, or infectious diseases. AI-assisted analysis found four nodules, of which one was with the risk of malignancy of 88% (LungRads3), one was with the risk of malignancy of 15% (LungRads2), and the other two were smaller in size and considered benign. The patient underwent a thoracoscopic wedge resection of the right upper lung. The intraoperative frozen section pathology report confirmed invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma, grade II, and primarily of alveolar and adherent types without metastasis.

CONCLUSION

In summary, AI-assisted lung nodule diagnostic system is effective in the screening of lung nodules and the differentiation between benign and malignant.