Abstract:

Objective To analyze and summarize the imaging characteristics of high-resolution CT (HRCT) in 250 cases with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), so as to improve the accuracy of HRCT diagnosis of COVID-19. Methods Four hundred and ninety-two suspected COVID-19 cases were selected from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital (2020.01.01-2020.02.20) by cluster sampling, 250 of them were definitely diagnosed with positive nucleic acid test, and their HRCT imaging characteristics were analyzed retrospectively. Among the 250 cases, 169 (67.6%) were males and 81 (32.4%) were females. The age ranged from 21 to 83 years old with the median age of 51 years old. Among the clinical symptoms, 229 cases had fever, among which 210 (84.0%) had moderate or low fever. There were 195 cases (78.0%) with respiratory symptoms. There were 38 cases (15.2%) without any clinical symptoms but had close contact with the confirmed patients, and their abnormal lung conditions were found through physical examination. SPSS 23.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistical method was used for this group of data, and the enumeration data was expressed as “rate or composition ratio (%)”. Results (1) Gender and age characteristics: there were 169 male patients (67.6%) and 81 female patients (32.4%),and the percentage difference was 35.2%. In different age groups from 21 to 83 years old, there were 6 cases (2.4%) in the age group from 21 to 30 years old, which was the lowest percentage, 89 cases (35.6%) in the age group from 50 to 60 years old, was the highest percentage.(2) Clinical features: there were 210 (84.0%) cases with low fever, 195 (78.0%) cases with respiratory symptoms, and 38 (15.2%) cases in close contact with the confirmed patients, asymptomatic but with pulmonary abnormalities. Of the 250 cases who tested positive for nucleic acid and were finally confirmed, 221 (84.4%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 at the first HRCT diagnosis.(3) HRCT imaging characteristics are: Multiple pulmonary ground - glass opacity (GGO) in 195 cases (78.0%), multiple patchy shadows in 36 cases (14.4%),27 cases (10.8%) with diffuse interstitial infiltrating shadows, multiple large patchy consolidation in 20 cases (8.0%),increased vascular bundle in 207 cases (82.8%).The lesions were found in 207 cases (82.8%) in the external areas of subpleural areas. In the dynamic observation, 221 cases (88.4%) with interval 3 days short-term reexamination showed an increase in an explosive mode. Conclusion After mastering the typical HRCT imaging characteristics of COVID-19 mentioned above, the CT diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19 will be greatly improved, and the clinical comprehensive diagnosis level of COVID-19 will be greatly improved.

Key words: Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), Diagnostic imaging, Tomography, X-ray computed, Disease attributes