CT changes of severe coronavirus disease 2019 based on prognosis

This study aimed to determine the characteristics of CT changes in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on prognosis. Serial CT scans in 47 patients with severe COVID-19 were reviewed. The patterns, distribution and CT score of lung abnormalities were assessed. Scans were classified according to duration in weeks after onset of symptoms. These CT abnormalities were compared between discharged and dead patients. Twenty-six patients were discharged, whereas 21 passed away. Discharged patients were characterized by a rapid rise in CT score in the first 2 weeks followed by a slow decline, presence of reticular and mixed patterns from the second week, and prevalence of subpleural distribution of opacities in all weeks. In contrast, dead patients were characterized by a progressive rise in CT score, persistence of ground-glass opacity and consolidation patterns in all weeks, and prevalence of diffuse distribution from the second week. CT scores of death group were significantly higher than those of discharge group (P < 0.05). The CT changes differed between the discharged and dead patients. An understanding of these differences can be of clinical significance in the assessment of the prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients.