GGO
Medical abbreviation · Respiratory
| Stands for | Ground-glass opacity |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
GGO stands for Ground-glass opacity, a respiratory abbreviation.
Hazy area of increased density on CT through which underlying vessels and airways remain visible, reflecting partial filling of air spaces or thickening of the interstitium. Causes range from infection, edema and bleeding to inflammation and early lung adenocarcinoma.
Example: CT: bilateral peripheral GGOs with crazy-paving, consistent with viral pneumonia.
Usage notes
Ground-glass changes became widely familiar as a typical CT sign of COVID-19 pneumonia. Diffuse GGO usually reflects an acute or inflammatory process, while a persistent focal ground-glass nodule may represent slow-growing adenocarcinoma and is followed for years. Consolidation, by contrast, completely obscures the vessels.
Related abbreviations
More respiratory abbreviations
- FeNO – Fractional exhaled nitric oxide
- FEV1 – Forced expiratory volume in 1 second
- FEV1/FVC – Ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity
- FiO2 – Fraction of inspired oxygen
- FRC – Functional residual capacity
- FVC – Forced vital capacity
- GINA – Global Initiative for Asthma
- GOLD – Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
- HCAP – Healthcare-associated pneumonia
- HFNC – High-flow nasal cannula
- HP – Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- HSAT – Home sleep apnea test
See all 109 respiratory abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.