Objective This study aimed to compare the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) image features of patients with Pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) with histopathology. Methods A total of 78 pulmonary GGNs cases resected between May 2014 and May 2016 were evaluated and pathologically classified as pre-invasive lesions (atypical adenomatous hyperplasia(AAH) and adenocarcinoma in situ(AIS),n=14), minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA, n=24), invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC, n=40). The spiculation, lobulation, air-containing space, vacuole sign and pleural indentation on CT images were compared with pathological results to identify the features that helped distinguish between invasive group(IAC) and non-or minimally- invasive group(preinvasive lesions and MIA). Results There were statistically significant differences in lesion spiculation, lobulation, pleural indentation between preinvasive lesions and IAC (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in pleural indentation between MIA and IAC (P<0.05), there were statistically significant differences in spiculation and pleural indentation between preinvasive lesions and MIA (P<0.05), the more spiculations, lobulations, vacuole signs and pleural indentations were present in the invasive group than non- or minimally- invasive group (P<0.05). Conclusion HRCT manifestations of pulmonary ground-glass nodules has certain correlation with the pathological results, analysis the imaging performance helps to identify preoperative diagnosis．