人工智能定量测量对新型冠状病毒肺炎患者胸部CT炎性病灶动态变化的评估价值

目的探讨人工智能(AI)辅助定量测量评估新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)胸部CT动态变化的价值。方法回顾性分析2020年1月15日至3月10日在华中科技大学同济医学院附属武汉市中心医院接受治疗的99例确诊COVID-19患者的临床和胸部CT动态影像资料。依据最终诊断,99例患者分为普通型(36例)、重型(33例)和危重型(30例),分析3型间CT影像学表现,包括CT基本征象、肺炎病灶总体积及肺炎病灶总体积占全肺体积的百分比(体积比)。使用AI软件定量评价胸部CT影像的动态变化,定量指标有CT病灶峰值时间、病灶峰值总体积、病灶峰值体积比、总体积最大增长率、体积比最大增长率。采用Kruskal-Wallis秩和检验比较3型间定量指标的差异,以χ2检验或Fisher确切概率法比较3型间定性指标的差异。采用序列测量及散点图显示3型COVID-19病灶体积比的演变趋势,采用ROC曲线分析肺炎病灶体积比及其最大增长率预判普通型肺炎转为重型或危重型的价值。结果普通型、重型、危重型COVID-19患者年龄及性别分布差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),其中重型与危重型患者年龄显著高于普通型(P<0.01)。与普通型[2.5(1.0,5.0)d]和危重型[2.5(1.0,4.0)d]相比,重型发病至首次胸部CT扫描的时间延长[5.0(2.5,8.0)d,P<0.01]。普通型、重型、危重型COVID-19患者首诊肺部多叶受累的差异有统计学意义(分别为20例、29例、25例,χ2=10.403,P=0.006),其中重型和危重型患者多肺叶受累发生率显著高于普通型(P=0.002)。普通型、重型、危重型COVID-19患者首诊体积比差异有统计学意义[分别为1.0%(0.2%,4.7%)、9.30%(1.63%,26.83%)、2.10%(0.64%,8.61%),Z=14.236,P=0.001],其中重型患者体积比显著高于普通型(P<0.001),普通型与危重型差异无统计学意义(P=0.062)。随访CT显示肺炎病灶呈进展及恢复的动态转变,可见多期相病灶共存。3型COVID-19患者病灶体积比散点图中趋势线显示进展期病灶均呈由少到多的发展。普通型、重型及危重型病灶峰值体积比分别为9.75%(4.83%,13.18%)、29.80%(23.99%,42.36%)和61.81%(43.73%,72.82%),差异有统计学意义(Z=74.147,P<0.001),病灶体积比的最大增长率分别为1.27%(0.50%,1.81%)/d、4.39%(3.16%,5.54%)/d和6.02%(4.77%,9.96%)/d,差异有统计学意义(Z=52.453,P<0.001),病灶峰值时间分别为12.0(9.0,15.0)d、13.0(10.0,16.0)d和16.5(12.0,25.0)d,差异有统计学意义(Z=9.524,P=0.009)。以肺炎病灶峰值体积比22.60%、体积比的最大增长率1.875%/d为界值,诊断普通型转重型或危重型的灵敏度分别为92.10%、96.83%,特异度分别为100%、80.56%,曲线下面积分别为0.987、0.925。结论COVID-19肺炎病灶在CT上呈类抛物线样变化,采用AI技术对CT肺炎病灶体积比进行动态精确测量有助于评价疾病的严重程度和预判疾病的发展趋势,病灶体积比快速增长的患者更容易转变为重型或危重型。     

人工智能在新型冠状病毒肺炎临床分型中的应用

目的 探讨人工智能在诊断新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)临床分型中的应用价值.方法 对158例最终经深圳疾控中心核酸检测阳性确诊COVID-19患者的胸部CT影像资料进行回顾性分析.把临床分型为普通型、重型、危重型的患者分为普通型和重型/危重型2组,应用推想科技影像人工智能软件(InferReadTM CT Pne...     

基于机器学习的CT定量指标与新型冠状病毒肺炎临床分型及肺损伤严重程度的相关性研究

目的探讨胸部CT定量指标在新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)临床分型及肺损伤严重程度评价中的价值。方法回顾性分析华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院2020年1月1日至2020年4月1日COVID-19确诊的438例患者的临床及CT影像资料。临床分型为普通型146例、重型247例、危重型45例。使用人工智能(AI)深度学习定量分析所有患者胸部CT指标,包括全肺体积、全肺感染体积、磨玻璃密度体积(GGO体积,CT值<-300 HU)和实性密度体积(SO体积,CT值≥-300 HU)以及SO体积/GGO体积。采用Kruskal-Wallis检验对各临床分型之间定量参数的差异性进行统计学分析,采用多元有序logistic回归分析定量参数与临床分型之间的相关性。结果 438例COVID-19确诊患者中,重型及危重型患者的年龄较大(P<0.05),且危重型患者以男性为主(P<0.05)。各临床分型患者的临床表现均主要以发热为主,其次为咳嗽、乏力、胸闷、呼吸困难、消化道症状等。3种临床分型肺部病变的CT表现均以GGO为主;全肺感染体积、GGO体积、SO体积以及各自在全肺体积的比例均从普通型、重型到危重型患者逐渐增大(P<0.01);SO体积/GGO体积随临床分型严重程度增加逐渐增大[普通型为0.12(0.03,0.34),重型为0.29(0.11, 0.59),危重型为0.61(0.39,0.97),P<0.05]。多元有序logistic回归分析显示全肺感染体积(OR=1.009)、SO体积/GGO体积(OR=1.866)、GGO体积(OR=1.008)和SO体积(OR=1.016)对临床分型的严重程度产生显著的正向影响关系(P<0.01)。结论基于AI胸部CT定量指标(SO体积、GGO体积、SO体积/GGO体积)与COVID-19肺炎临床严重程度密切相关。     

胸部CT特征预测普通型新型冠状病毒肺炎患者转归的价值

【摘要】目的:探讨胸部CT特征评估普通型新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）患者转归情况的价值。方法：搜集入院时为普通型COVID-19的患者158例,根据入院后2~7天内是否发展为重症肺炎分为普通型组和转重症组;记录其临床资料、血清学指标以及胸部CT表现。利用多因素Logistic回归筛选普通型COVID-19转重症肺炎的独立影响因素。利用列线图预测普通型COVID-19患者的预后。结果：淋巴细胞计数减少（P=0.032）、病灶累及右肺中叶（P=0.020）、病灶累及肺叶数（P=0.021）以及病灶占整肺体积百分比（P=0.013）是影响普通型COVID-19转重症的独立影响因素。列线图模型拟合度为0.85,提示模型预测结果与实际一致性较好。结论：胸部CT的特征表现对普通型COVID-19患者临床分型的转变具有较好的预测能力,列线图可以方便地预测出每例普通型COVID-19患者转为重症肺炎的概率。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎不同时期CT表现及中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值、T淋巴细胞亚群变化

【摘要】目的：探讨新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）不同时期CT特征及与中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值（NLR）、外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的关系,提高对NCP的认识和诊治水平。方法：回顾性分析56例COVID-19患者的CT资料,对其急性期、恢复期（重症期）CT表现进行分析,并对其NLR及T淋巴细胞亚群计数进行对比分析。结果：56例COVID-19中,普通型38例,影像上急性期表现以肺中外带、磨玻璃影为主,恢复期肺内病灶治疗后5例（13.16%）完全吸收,18例（47.37%）明显吸收,15例（39.47%）部分吸收;重型11例,急性期表现为双肺广泛的磨玻璃影和（或）大片状实变影,恢复期明显吸收的7例（63.64%）,部分吸收的4例（36.36%）;危重型7例,急性期亚实变、实变为主混合磨玻璃影,恢复期明显吸收的1例（14.29%）,部分吸收的3例（42.86%）,死亡3例,且均为重症期,呈“白肺”改变。普通型组、重型组、危重型组NLR及CD4+T淋巴细胞计数在急性期、恢复期（重症期）组间差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05)。结论：COVID-19普通型以磨玻璃密度影及斑片状阴影为主,部分实变,重型、危重型以亚实变、实变为主,影像表现多样。治疗后普通型患者多明显吸收,重型、危重型患者多残留间质增生及纤维化。NRL、T淋巴细胞计数对早期识别NCP重型、危重型患者及预后有重要意义。     

普通型与重型/危重型COVID-19病人的CT表现及临床特征比较

目的探讨新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)不同临床分型的CT影像表现及临床特征。方法回顾性分析2020年1月24日—2月17日确诊的189例COVID-19病人的临床及首诊CT影像资料,男91例,女98例,平均(46.5±16.6)岁。全部病人分为普通组(普通型,153例)和重症组(重型/危重型,36例)。采用卡方检验或t检验比较2组临床特征及CT影像表现间的差异。结果与普通组相比,重症组的男性占比(72.2%)、平均年龄[(55.9±15.4)岁]更高(均P0.05),合并高血压、糖尿病的比例以及头晕、头痛、全身酸痛、气促及高热的发生率也更高(均P0.05),白细胞、淋巴细胞及中性粒细胞异常的比率均高于普通组(均P0.05)。重症组病人全部表现为双肺受累,累及范围达10个肺段以上,人均病灶数量大于普通组(24.8±13.5∶12.3±8.8,P0.05)。重症组出现单纯实变影、胸膜下线的比例高于普通组(均P0.05)。结论普通型与重型/危重型COVID-19病人的临床症状、实验室检查及CT影像表现方面均存在差异,了解和掌握这些差异性,有助于临床及影像科医生对COVID-19病人进行病情评估。     

广州地区新型冠状病毒肺炎的高分辨率CT表现与临床特点

目的 初步探讨广州地区新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的临床及首诊高分辨率CT(HRCT)影像表现特点。方法 回顾性分析2020年1月22日至30日广州市第八人民医院确诊的91例COVID-19患者,其中男39例、女52例,中位年龄50(33, 62)岁,分析91例COVID-19患者的临床及HRCT特点。结果 临床表现主要为发热70例,咳嗽57例,以干咳为主(39例)。首次HRCT有24例COVID-19患者呈阴性表现,67例HRCT有异常病灶,主要表现为肺内磨玻璃影65例、病灶内合并血管束增粗64例、病灶邻近胸膜增厚50例、间质间隔增厚47例、斑片影42例。所有患者均未见肿大淋巴结。病灶分布:双肺弥漫分布的2例,多发57例,单肺叶出现8例;病灶主要分布于胸膜下46例,肺下叶分布为著39例,上叶为著7例,在肺内无明显分布特征的有13例。结论 广州地区COVID-19早期影像主要表现为多发磨玻璃影,以胸膜下及下肺野多见,多有肺间质间隔的增厚,广州地区COVID- 19轻型及普通型患者比例较高,部分确诊患者首次HRCT呈阴性表现,对于HRCT呈阴性的患者,应及时复查。     

50例普通型新型冠状病毒肺炎患者临床及胸部CT表现的分析

目的 分析50例普通型新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）患者的流行病学、临床、实验室检测结果及胸部CT表现,为临床诊治提供理论依据。 方法 回顾性分析2020年1至4月于无锡市第五人民医院经实时聚合酶链反应对咽拭子标本检查结果为阳性的50例普通型COVID-19患者[其中,男性26例、女性24例,年龄（38.2±19.6）岁]的临床数据和CT资料;同时对患者行薄层胸部CT扫描多平面重建以观察患者的肺部改变,对各肺区受累情况进行评分。计量资料的比较采用Mann-Whitney U检验。计数资料的比较采用卡方检验。 结果 50例普通型COVID-19患者中,40例患者（80%）曾到过武汉或与确诊患者有过接触史,17例（34%）无明显症状,38例（76%）主要表现为发热、咳嗽、乏力。实验室检查结果多数在正常范围内,部分患者出现淋巴细胞计数下降、超敏C反应蛋白水平升高、淋巴细胞百分比下降。典型CT表现主要为磨玻璃影、铺路石征、实变,且肺组织病变以周围型为主,双侧多叶分布。肺前区CT评分明显低于后区（H=?4.096,P=0.003）,中、上区CT评分低于下区（H=6.917,P=0.031）。 结论 普通型COVID-19患者的临床表现可能不明显,实验室检查结果可能无明显异常,而胸部CT的改变比较明显,因此临床诊治过程中应充分结合患者胸部CT的表现,密切关注胸部CT的动态变化。     

临床资料联合CT建模预测COVID-19普通型肺炎向重型转化

【摘要】目的：探讨新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）由普通型向重症型转化相关危险因素并建立有效预测模型,提高对新型冠状病毒肺炎认识和诊治水平。方法：分析153例COVID-19患者入院临床及CT资料,依据第7版新型NCP诊疗方案将其分为普通型组及重症型组,普通型肺炎组101例;普通型肺炎转重型组52例。通过CT表现、临床症状、基础病、血常规、肝功及凝血功能行综合分析,运用logistic回归建模并绘制ROC曲线。结果：临床资料中男性、高龄、呼吸困难、纳差、高血压、糖尿病、心血管疾病、淋巴细胞、C反应蛋白、白细胞及中性粒细胞计数、白蛋白及纤维蛋白原计数两组间比较有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;CT表现肺叶受累数量、病灶形态、邻近胸膜情况两组间比较有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。临床资料建立预测模型灵敏度82.56%,特异度75.00%,曲线下面积0.881;CT表现建立预测模型灵敏度68.18%,特异度47.62%,曲线下面积0.666;结合临床资料及CT表现综合建立预测模型灵敏度85.98%,特异度80.43%,曲线下面积0.922。结论：CT结合临床特征、实验室检查在早期预测COVID-19临床分型转变中具有重要意义,可对疾病严重程度行早期评估。     

低剂量放疗治疗8例重型/危重型新冠肺炎的初步临床观察

目的 探讨全肺低剂量放疗(LDRT)治疗重型/危重型新型冠状病毒(COVID-19)肺炎的疗效和不良反应。方法 本研究为单臂Ⅰ期临床研究,对2023年1月至6月南通大学附属江阴医院收治的经内科治疗后病情恶化或无改善的8例重型/危重型新型COVID-19肺炎患者行全肺LDRT。患者取仰卧或俯卧位,前后对穿照射,剂量权重为1∶1,全肺LDRT剂量0.5~1.5 Gy。分析患者放疗前后氧合状况、炎症指标和影像学变化,观察患者急性放射性不良反应。结果 LDRT后1周,7例(87.5%)患者的SaO₂/FiO₂或PaO₂/FiO₂指标上升,7例(87.5%)患者C反应蛋白(CRP)、白介素6(IL-6)等炎性指标下降,胸部CT/胸片扫描显示5例(62.5%)肺部炎症受累范围显著减少。未观察到明显急性放射性不良反应。结论 对内科治疗效果欠佳的重型/危重型新型COVID-19肺炎患者进行全肺0.5~1.5 Gy剂量的LDRT治疗,有助于降低炎症指标,改善临床症状,促进炎症吸收且无明显急性不良反应。     

Chest CT features and progression of patients with coronavirus disease 2019

Objectives:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major public health emergency. It poses a grave threat to human life and health. The purpose of the study is to investigate the chest CT findings and progression of the disease observed in COVID-19 patients.Methods:Forty-nine confirmed cases of adult COVID-19 patients with common type, severe and critically severe type were included in this retrospective single-center study. The thin-section chest CT features and progress of the disease were evaluated. The clinical and chest imaging findings of COVID-19 patients with different severity types were compared. The CT severity score and MuLBSTA score (a prediction of mortality risk) were calculated in those patients.Results:Among the 49 patients, 35 patients (71%) were common type and 14 patients (28%) were severe and critically severe type. Nearly all patients (98%) had pure ground-glass opacities (GGO) in CT imaging. Of the severe and critically severe type patients, 86% exhibited GGO with consolidation, in comparison with 54% of the patients with common type. Fibrosis presented in 79% of the severe and critically severe type patients and 43% of the common type patients. The severe and critically severe type patients were significantly more prone to experience five-lobe involvement compared to the common type patients (p = 0.002). The severe and critically severe type patients also had higher CT severity and MuLBSTA scores than the common type patients (5.43 ± 2.38 vs 3.37 ± 2.40, p < 0.001;and 10.21 ± 3.83 vs 4.63 ± 3.43, p < 0.001, respectively). MuLBSTA score was positively correlated with admittance to the intensive care unit (p = 0.005, r = 0.351). Nineteen patients underwent three times CT scan. The interval between first and second CT scan was 4[4,8] days, second and third was 3[2,4] days. There were greater improvements in the third CT follow-up findings compared to the second (p = 0.002).Conclusions:The severe and critically severe type patients often experienced more severe lung lesions, including GGO with consolidation. The CT severity score and MuLBSTA score may be helpful for the assessment of COVID-19 severity and progression.Advances in knowledge:Chest CT has the value of evaluated radiographical features of COVID-19 and allow for dynamic observation of the disease progression. Considering coagulation disorder of COVID-19, MuLBSTA score may need to be updated to increase new understanding of COVID-19.     

Complications in COVID-19 patients: Characteristics of pulmonary embolism

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to evaluate chest CT imaging features, clinical characteristics, laboratory values of COVID-19 patients who underwent CTA for suspected pulmonary embolism. We also examined whether clinical, laboratory or radiological characteristics could be associated with a higher rate of PE.Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included 84 consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 who underwent CTA for suspected PE. The presence and localization of PE as well as the type and extent of pulmonary opacities on chest CT exams were examined and correlated with the information on comorbidities and laboratory values for all patients.ResultsOf the 84 patients, pulmonary embolism was discovered in 24 patients. We observed that 87% of PE was found to be in lung parenchyma affected by COVID-19 pneumonia. Compared with no-PE patients, PE patients showed an overall greater lung involvement by consolidation (p = 0.02) and GGO (p < 0.01) and a higher level of D-Dimer (p < 0,01). Moreover, the PE group showed a lower level of saturation (p = 0,01) and required more hospitalization (p < 0,01).ConclusionOur study showed a high incidence of PE in COVID-19 pneumonia. In 87% of patients, PE was found in lung parenchyma affected by COVID-19 pneumonia with a worse CT severity score and a greater number of lung lobar involvement compared with non-PE patients. CT severity, lower level of saturation, and a rise in D-dimer levels could be an indication for a CTPA.Advances in knowledgeCertain findings of non-contrast chest CT could be an indication for a CTPA.     

COVID-19 in pregnancy: a systematic review of chest CT findings and associated clinical features in 427 patients

PurposeOur purpose was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review of all existing literature regarding imaging findings on chest CT and associated clinical features in pregnant patients diagnosed with COVID-19.Materials & methodsA literature search was conducted on April 21, 2020 and updated on July 24, 2020 using PubMed, Embase, World Health Organization, and Google Scholar databases. Only studies which described chest CT findings of COVID-19 in pregnant patients were included for analysis.ResultsA total of 67 articles and 427 pregnant patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were analyzed. The most frequently encountered pulmonary findings on chest CT were ground-glass opacities (77.2%, 250/324), posterior lung involvement (72.5%, 50/69), multilobar involvement (71.8%, 239/333), bilateral lung involvement (69.4%, 231/333), peripheral distribution (68.1%, 98/144), and consolidation (40.9%, 94/230). Pregnant patients were also found to present more frequently with consolidation (40.9% vs. 21.0–31.8%) and pleural effusion (30.0% vs. 5.0%) in comparison to the general population. Associated clinical features included antepartum fever (198 cases), lymphopenia (128 cases), and neutrophilia (97 cases). Of the 251 neonates delivered, 96.8% had negative RT-PCR and/or IgG antibody testing for COVID-19. In the eight cases (3.2%) of reported neonatal infection, tests were either conducted on samples collected up to 72 h after birth or were found negative on all subsequent RT-PCR tests.ConclusionPregnant patients appear to present more commonly with more advanced COVID-19 CT findings compared to the general adult population. Furthermore, characteristic laboratory abnormalities found in pregnant patients tended to mirror those found in the general patient population. Lastly, results from neonatal testing suggest a low risk of vertical transmission.     

Chest CT imaging features and clinical outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A single-center case study in Ningbo,China

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the chest CT imaging features and clinical outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Ningbo, China.MethodsIn this retrospective study, twenty-eight confirmed and seven highly suspected cases of COVID-19 were enrolled in Ningbo first hospital from January 26, 2020 to March 5, 2020. Cases were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The initial and follow-up chest CT imaging features, epidemiological history, and outcome were analyzed.ResultsThe average age of the patients was 57.3 ± 15.3 years (range: 27–96 years), including 25 females and 10 males. On CT images, 89.3% (25/28) confirmed and 100% (7/7) suspected patients had ground-glass opacities (GGOs), and GGOs with mixed consolidations were observed in 35.7% (10/28) confirmed and 42.9% (3/7) suspected cases, most of these lesions were distributed under the peripheral of both lungs. 17 confirmed and 4 suspected cases had a history of participating in Ningbo Tian-tong Temple rituals and all had GGOs in their lungs during the initial CT scan. As of March 25, 2020, the lung lesions of our cases were significantly resolved and all patients have been discharged from the hospital.ConclusionThe most common chest CT features are multiple bilateral and peripheral GGOs with mixed consolidations or not in the lungs of patients with COVID-19. Chest CT plays an important role in the diagnosis and monitoring treatment response of this disease. There was no reported death in our cases.     

Scrub typhus: radiological and clinical findings

OBJECTIVES: To describe the radiological and clinical findings of scrub typhus. We retrospectively analysed the radiographic, thin-section CT and clinical features of scrub typhus. METHODS: The study included 75 consecutive patients (median age = 47 years, range = 18-81 years) with scrub typhus. Plain chest radiographs were obtained in all 75 patients and 19 underwent thin-section CT within 6 days of initial radiography. The radiographic and thin-section CT findings were retrospectively analysed by three radiologists. RESULTS: Most common clinical symptoms were fever (73/75, 98%), myalgia (61/75, 81%) and headache (60/75%, 80%). Rash (59/75, 79%) and eschar (56/75, 75%) were the most common signs. Radiography showed abnormalities in 54/75 (72%) patients. The most frequent findings were parenchymal abnormalities (53/75, 71%) with lower lung predilection including bilateral reticulonodular opacities (30/75, 40%), ground-glass opacity (19/75, 25%), consolidation (19/75, 25%), septal lines (27/75, 36%) and hilar lymph node enlargement (19/75, 25%). Thin-section CT (n = 19) showed ground-glass opacity (17/19, 89%) predominantly in the lower zones. Bronchial wall thickening (11/19, 58%), centrilobular nodules (9/19, 47%) and interlobular septal thickening (9/19, 47%) were less frequent findings. CONCLUSIONS: Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness characterized by eschar, which usually has a limited course without serious complication. Diffuse bilateral reticulonodular opacities with lower lung predominance was the most frequent radiographic finding. Chest radiography and thin-section CT show pulmonary interstitial disease which may have a component of pulmonary oedema secondary to cardiac dysfunction.     

Magnetic resonance imaging features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia: The first preliminary case series

Rationale and objectivesThere is a rising onus on understanding the common features of COVID-19 pneumonia on different imaging modalities. In this study, we aimed to review and depict the common MRI features of COVID-19 pneumonia in our laboratory confirmed case series, the first comprehensive reported cohort in the literature.Materials and methodsUpon IRB approval, eight laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patients who presented to our outpatient imaging clinic underwent chest CT and, once various features of COVID-19 pneumonia were identified, a dedicated multisequence chest MRI was performed on the same day with an institutional protocol. Demographic data and the morphology, laterality and location of the lesions were recorded for each case.ResultsFive males and three females with the mean age of 40.63 ± 12.64 years old were present in this case series. Five cases had typical CT features with ground glass opacities and consolidations, readily visible on different MRI sequences. Three cases had indeterminate or atypical features which were also easily seen on MRI. The comprehensive review of MRI features for each case and representative images have been illustrated.ConclusionBecoming familiar with typical findings of COVID-19 pneumonia in MRI is crucial for every radiologist. Although MRI is not the modality of choice for evaluation of pulmonary opacities, it has similar capabilities in detection of COVID-19 pneumonia when compared to chest CT.     

Preliminary CT findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

ObjectivesCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This paper aims to examine the CT imaging characteristics of COVID-19.MethodsWe evaluated CT images obtained between 10 January 2019 and 16 February 2020 at Taihe Hospital. Scans were conducted 2–6 times per patient and the re-testing interval was 2–7 days. Ninety-five patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test results were included in this study and we retrospectively analysed their CT imaging characteristics.ResultsNinety-five patients underwent 2–3 SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid tests and received a definitive diagnosis of COVID-19. Fifty-three were male and 42 were female, and their mean age was 42 ± 12 years (range: 10 months to 81 years). Sixty-nine patients (72.6%) experienced fever, fatigue, and dry cough, while 15 (15.8%) had poor appetite and fatigue, and 11 (11.6%) had a dry cough and no fever. On CT imaging, early stage patients (n = 53, 55.8%) showed peripheral subpleural ground-glass opacities; these were mainly local patches (22/53, 41.5%), while some lesions were accompanied by interlobular septal thickening. Thirty-four (35.8%) patients were classified in the ‘progression stage’ based on CT imaging; these patients typically showed lesions in multiple lung segments and lobes (21/34，61.8%), and an uneven increase in ground-glass opacity density accompanied by consolidation and grid-like or cord-like shadows(30.5%). Two patients (2.1%) showed a severe presentation on CT. These showed diffuse bilateral lung lesions, mixed ground-glass opacities and consolidation with cord-like interstitial thickening and air bronchograms, entire lung involvement with a “white lung” presentation, and mild pleural effusion. Six patients in remission (6.3%), visible lesion absorption, fibrotic lesions. Based on clinical signs, 71 (74.7%), 22 (23.2%), and 2 (2.1%) patients had mild or moderate, severe, and critical disease, respectively. Within the follow-up period, 93 patients recovered and were discharged, including the 53 early stage patients and 34 progression stage patients. The length of hospitalisation was 7–28 days (mean: 10 ± 3.5 days). On discharge, lesions were significantly reduced in area and had in many cases completely disappeared, while slight pulmonary fibrosis was present in some patients. One severe stage patient was still hospitalised at the end of the follow-up period and the other severe stage patient died. The overall mortality rate was 1.05%.ConclusionsUnderstanding the CT imaging characteristics of COVID-19 is important for early lesion detection, determining the nature of lesions, and assessing disease severity.