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Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia
Published on: December 19, 2020
Analysis of 4 imaging features in patients with COVID-19
Jun Jin1, De-Hong Gao2, Xin Mo1
1Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Nanshan District Shekou People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518067, Guangdong Province, China.
Insights
Four distinct chest CT imaging features, including the "feather sign" and "dandelion sign," were analyzed in COVID-19 patients. Identifying these signs aids in improving coronavirus disease 2019 diagnosis and reducing errors.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents diverse chest CT findings.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective patient management and public health.
- Specific imaging features may aid in early and reliable identification of COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze four specific chest computed tomography (CT) imaging features in patients with COVID-19.
- To investigate the pathological basis of these identified signs.
- To enhance the diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19 using CT imaging.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of chest CT scans from 34 confirmed COVID-19 patients.
- Investigation of four distinct imaging features: "feather sign," "dandelion sign," "pomegranate sign," and "rime sign."
- Correlation of imaging findings with pathological observations and follow-up results.
Main Results:
- "Feather sign" and "dandelion sign" were observed in 65.2% and 52.9% of patients, respectively.
- These typical signs involve ground-glass opacities, thickened vessels, and interlobular septa.
- "Pomegranate sign" (atypical) and "rime sign" (severe) were less common, associated with hemorrhage and alveolar edema.
Conclusions:
- "Feather sign" and "dandelion sign" are typical CT features of COVID-19.
- "Pomegranate sign" is atypical, and "rime sign" indicates severity.
- Accurate identification of these CT signs improves COVID-19 diagnostic accuracy and reduces misdiagnosis.
Background:
The aim of this was to analyze 4 chest CT imaging features of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Shenzhen, China so as to improve the diagnosis of COVID-19.
Methods:
Chest CT of 34 patients with COVID-19 confirmed by the nucleic acid test (NAT) were retrospectively analyzed. Analyses were performed to investigate the pathological basis of four imaging features("feather sign","dandelion sign","pomegranate sign", and "rime sign") and to summarize the follow-up results.
Results:
There were 22 patients (65.2%) with typical "feather sign"and 18 (52.9%) with "dandelion sign", while few patients had "pomegranate sign" and "rime sign". The "feather sign" and "dandelion sign" were composed of stripe or round ground-glass opacity (GGO), thickened blood vessels, and small-thickened interlobular septa. The "pomegranate sign" was characterized as follows: the increased range of GGO, the significant thickening of the interlobular septum, complicated with a small amount of punctate alveolar hemorrhage. The "rime sign" was characterized by numerous alveolar edemas. Microscopically, the wall thickening, small vascular proliferation, luminal stenosis, and occlusion, accompanied by interstitial infiltration of inflammatory cells, as well as numerous pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and partial hyaline degeneration were observed. Repeated chest CT revealed the mediastinal lymphadenectasis in one patient. Re-examination of the NAT showed another positive anal swab in two patients.
Conclusion:
"Feather sign" and "dandelion sign" were typical chest CT features in patients withCOVID-19; "pomegranate sign" was an atypical feature, and "rime sign" was a severe feature. In clinical work, accurate identification of various chest CT signs can help to improve the diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19 and reduce the misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis rate.
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