The widespread use of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in lung cancer screening has enabled more and more lung nodules to get identified of which more than 20% are multiple pulmonary nodules. At present, there is no guideline or consensus for multiple pulmonary nodules whose management is based primarily on the pulmonary imaging characteristics and associated risk factors. Herein, this review covers the imaging methods, CT appearances and management of multiple pulmonary nodules.
Lobectomy and systematic nodules resection has been the standard surgical procedure for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, increased small-size lung cancer has been identified with the widespread implementation of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening, and it is controversial whether it is proper to choose lobar resection for the pulmonary nodules. Numerous retrospective researches and randomized clinical trials, such as JCOG0201, JCOG0804/WJOG4507L, JCOG0802 and CALGB/Alliance 140503, revealed that the sublobar resection was safe and effective for NSCLC with maximum tumor diameter≤2 cm and with consolidation tumor ratio (CTR)≤0.25, and that segmentectomy was superior to lobectomy with significant differences in 5-year overall survival rate and respiratory function for patients with small-size (≤2 cm, CTR>0.5) NSCLC and should be the standard surgical procedure. It is the principle for multiple primary lung cancer that priority should be given to primary lesions with secondary lesions considered, and it is feasible to handle the multiple lung nodules based on the patients' individual characteristics.