Evaluation of dynamic lung changes during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by quantitative computed tomography

This study aims to trace the dynamic lung changes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using computed tomography (CT) images by a quantitative method.

In this retrospective study, 28 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 145 CT scans are collected. The lesions are detected automatically and the parameters including lesion volume (LeV/mL), lesion percentage to lung volume (LeV%), mean lesion density (MLeD/HU), low attenuation area lower than - 400HU (LAA-400%), and lesion weight (LM/mL*HU) are computed for quantification. The dynamic changes of lungs are traced from the day of initial symptoms to the day of discharge. The lesion distribution among the five lobes and the dynamic changes in each lobe are also analyzed.

LeV%, MLeD, and LM reach peaks on days 9, 6 and 8, followed by a decrease trend in the next two weeks. LAA-400% (mostly the ground glass opacity) declines to the lowest on days 4-5, and then increases. The lesion is mostly seen in the bilateral lower lobes, followed by the left upper lobe, right upper lobe and right middle lobe (p < 0.05). The right middle lobe is the earliest one (on days 6-7), while the right lower lobe is the latest one (on days 9-10) that reaches to peak among the five lobes.

Severity of COVID-19 increases from the day of initial symptoms, reaches to the peak around on day 8, and then decreases. Lesion is more commonly seen in the bilateral lower lobes.