ObjectiveTo investigate differential diagnosis between benign and malignant of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN)and surgical strategies. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical and pathological data of 151 SPN patients who underwent surgical resection in Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University between November 2010 and March 2012. There were 89 male and 62 female patients with their age of 30-80 (57.99±0.86)years. Differential factors between benign and malignant SPN were analyzed. ResultsThere were 29 patients with benign SPN and 122 patients with malignant SPN. Among the 122 malignant SPN patients, there were 58 patients in stage ⅠA, 30 patients in stage ⅠB, 7 patients in stage ⅡA, 25 patients in stage ⅢA and 2 patients in stage Ⅳ. Mean diameter of malignant SPN was significantly larger than that of benign SPN (2.03 cm vs 1.77 cm, P=0.039). Malignant rate of SPN larger than 2 cm was significantly higher than that of SPN smaller than 2 cm (90.3% vs. 74.2%, P=0.013). Patients with malignant SPN was significantly older than patients with benign SPN (60.39 years vs. 47.90 years, P < 0.01). Malignant rate of patients over 45 years was significantly higher than that of patients younger than 45 years (86.4% vs. 38.9%, P < 0.01).There was no statistical difference in malignant rate between male and female, with and without clinical symptoms, smoking and nonsmo-king, smoking index≤400 and > 400 and among different lobes. Conclusions Differential factors of SPN include patients' medical history, age, diameter and shape of nodules, which should be considered comprehensively and dynamically. Gender, clinical symptoms, smoking history, smoking index and SPN location are not helpful for differential diagnosis of SPN.