Final answer:
Ground glass opacities represent hazy areas on the lungs seen on CT scans, indicating partial filling of air spaces. It can signify various conditions from infections to lung cancer, and further tests are usually needed for an accurate diagnosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ground glass opacity (GGO) is a term used in radiology to describe a specific appearance on computed tomography (CT) scans. These opacities are called 'ground glass' because they resemble the appearance of glass that has been ground or frosted, indicating a partial filling of air spaces in the lungs by something other than air, such as inflammatory exudate, blood, or tumor cells. It may appear hazy and does not obscure the underlying bronchial structures or pulmonary vessels.
Ground glass opacities can indicate a variety of lung conditions, ranging from infectious diseases like pneumonia and COVID-19 to non-infectious diseases such as interstitial lung disease (ILD), alveolar hemorrhage, or lung cancer. It is a nonspecific finding, and additional clinical information and further diagnostic tests are often required to determine the precise cause of the GGO.