Pulmonary contusion mimicking COVID-19: A case report

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents significant public health challenges due to human-to-human transmission and asymptomatic carriers.
• Early identification and management of COVID-19 are critical for controlling spread.
• Chest computed tomography (CT) aids in identifying infected individuals, but findings can overlap with other pulmonary conditions.

Observation:

• A 46-year-old woman presented with pain from a fall injury, with no typical COVID-19 symptoms but a potential exposure.
• Physical examination revealed abnormalities in the lower posterior chest, and laboratory tests showed elevated white blood cell and lymphocyte counts.
• Chest CT demonstrated bilateral patchy ground-glass opacities, initially raising suspicion for COVID-19.

Findings:

• The patient was diagnosed with pulmonary contusion secondary to trauma, along with multiple fractures.
• Follow-up chest CT after conservative treatment showed significant reduction in the previously observed opacities.
• This case illustrates the potential for pulmonary contusion to mimic COVID-19 on CT imaging.

Implications:

• Emphasizes the importance of considering differential diagnoses, particularly lung contusion, in patients with CT findings suggestive of COVID-19.
• Highlights the need for thorough clinical correlation and potentially serial imaging to differentiate between traumatic lung injury and infectious processes.
• Accurate diagnosis is essential for appropriate and timely treatment, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.