ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath and their diagnostic value in patients with early stage lung cancer.MethodsSolid-phase micro-extraction combined with gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to analyze exhaled breath VOCs of 117 patients with early stage lung cancer (54 males and 63 females, with an average age of 61.9±6.8 years) and 130 healthy subjects (79 males and 51 females, with an average age of 63.3±6.6 years. The characteristic VOCs of early stage lung cancer were identified, and a diagnostic model was established.ResultsTen characteristic VOCs of early stage lung cancer were identified, including acetic acid, n-butanol, dimethylsilanol, toluene, 2,3,4-trimethylheptane, 3,4-dimethylbenzoic acid, 5-methyl-3-hexene-2-ketone, n-hexanol, methyl 2-oxoglutarate and 4-methoxyphenol. Gender and the 10 characteristic VOCs were included in the diagnostic model, with a sensitivity of 83.8% and a specificity of 96.2%.ConclusionAnalysis of exhaled breath VOCs is expected to be one of the potential methods used for early stage lung cancer diagnosis.