This study investigated the application value and imaging features of multi-detector CT (MDCT) in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma with ground glass nodules (GGN). The medical data of 168 patients with pulmonary GGN in Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital from January 2013 to June 2015 were analyzed. Patients with microinvasive adenocarcinoma and invasive adenocarcinoma were included in group A (invasive lung adenocarcinoma, n=98), while patients with atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma in situ were included in group B (pre-invasive lung adenocarcinoma, n=70). The imaging features of MDCT were compared. ROC curves of the size of nidus and the size of solid component were drawn for the diagnosis of invasive lung adenocarcinoma. Logistic multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors that affected invasive lung adenocarcinoma. There were significant differences in nidus, burr, and lobes of the patients between groups A and B. The size of nidus and the size of solid component of the patients in group A were significantly higher than those of the patients in group B. The AUCs of the size of the nidus and the size of the solid component of the invasive lung adenocarcinoma were 0.891 and 0.902, respectively. The AUC of the combined diagnosis was 0.984. Size of the nidus, size of the solid component, nature of the lesion, burr, and lobes were all risk factors for invasive lung adenocarcinoma. In patients with GGN, size of the nidus and size of the solid component can be used as excellent diagnostic parameters for invasive lung adenocarcinoma, and nidus size (≥9.8 mm), size of the solid component (≥0.9 mm), the mixed GGN nature of the nidus, burr and lobes can distinguish invasive lung adenocarcinoma and pre-invasive lesions.