Chinese Researchers Detail CT Findings of 101 COVID-19 Pneumonia patients

Leesburg, A multi-center study (n=101) of the relationship between chest CT findings and the clinical conditions of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia—published ahead-of-print and open-accessin the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR)—determined that most patients with COVID-19 pneumonia have ground-glass opacities (GGO) (86.1%) or mixed GGO and consolidation (64.4%) and vascular enlargement in the lesion (71.3%).

In addition, lead authors Wei Zhao, Zheng Zhong, and colleagues revealed that lesions present on CT images were more likely to have peripheral distribution (87.1%) and bilateral involvement (82.2%) and be lower lung predominant (54.5%) and multifocal (54.5%).

Zhao, Zhong, et al.collected their 101 cases of COVID-19 pneumonia across four institutions in China's Hunan province, comparing clinical characteristics and imaging features between two groups: nonemergency (mild or common disease) and emergency (severe or fatal disease).

Accordingly, most of the cohort (70.2%) were 21–50 years old, and most patients (78.2%) had a fever as the onset symptom. Only five patients showed a disease associated with a family outbreak.

37-year-old man with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19), common type. Patient had short-termexposure history to Wuhan and onset symptoms of fever (38°C) and cough. CT was performed on day ofadmission.A–D, CT images show bilateral multifocal ground-glass opacities (GGO) and mixed GGO and consolidationlesions. Traction bronchiectasis (arrowhead, C) and vascular enlargement (arrow, B and D) are also present. CTinvolvement score is 5.

While the emergency group patients were older than the patients inthe nonemergency group, the rate of underlying disease was not significantly different in the two groups—suggesting that viral load could be a better reflection of the severity and extent of corvid-19 pneumonia.

As Zhao and Zhong explained further: "Architectural distortion, traction bronchiectasis, and pleural effusions, which may reflect the viral load and virulence of COVID-19, were statistically different between the two groups and may help us to identify the emergency type disease."

63-year-old woman with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19), severe type. Patient had long-termexposure history to Wuhan and onset symptoms of fever and cough. CT was performed 1 day after admission.A–D, CT images show bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities and reticulation (arrow, C). CT involvement scoreis 18.

The authors of this AJR article also noted that CT involvement score can help evaluate the severity and extent of COVID-19 pneumonia.

For more details click on the link: DOI: 10.2214/AJR.20.22976