First CT characteristic appearance of patients with coronavirus disease 2019

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a significant global health concern.
• Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for managing COVID-19 patients and controlling its spread.
• Chest computed tomography (CT) is a key imaging modality for evaluating respiratory illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize the specific imaging features of COVID-19 on initial chest CT examinations.
• To establish the correlation between CT findings and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid test results.
• To provide evidence supporting the diagnostic utility of chest CT in COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of imaging and clinical data from 163 COVID-19 patients across two hospitals.
• Detailed examination of the first chest CT scans for lesion characteristics, distribution, and patterns.
• Comparison of CT manifestations with SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test results and clinical data.

Main Results:

• Ground-glass opacity (GGO) was observed in 92.02% of patients, consolidation in 76.69%, and combined GGO with consolidation in 73.62%.
• Multiple lesions and lobules were common (71.17% and 86.50%, respectively).
• Specific patterns like bronchial inflation signs (53.37%) and "crazy paving" (36.20%) were noted; hilar lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion were infrequent.

Conclusions:

• Initial chest CT examinations in COVID-19 patients demonstrate distinct imaging features.
• Integrating chest CT findings with SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing, and re-evaluation when needed, enhances diagnostic accuracy for SARS-CoV-2 infection.