HIGH-RESOLUTION CT FEATURES OF THE COVID-19 INFECTION, INITIALAND FOLLOW-UP CHANGES AMONG DIFFERENT CLINICAL TYPES

Abstract

Background: To discuss the high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) manifestations of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients among different clinical types on initial and follow-up CT. Methods: Seventy COVID-19 patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of SP Medical Collage Bikaner were enrolled. All patients underwent initial and follow-up chest HRCT. The main CT features and semi-quantitative score which represent disease severity among different clinical types were evaluated. Result: On initial CT, the main abnormalities observed in common and severe cases respectively were pure ground glass opacities (GGOs) and patchy consolidation surrounded by GGOs. Critical cases had multiple consolidation surrounded by wide range of GGOs distributed in the whole lung fields. The CT severity score and density score in mild (up to 8 and 5), moderate (>8 to 15 and 9) and severe (>15 and 12) cases were increased by gradient. On follow-up CT, mild and moderate types manifested as decreasing density of lesion, absorbed consolidation and GGOs. Severe cases showed progression of the disease. The extent and progression scores in mild and moderate patients were significantly decreased, while the range score of patients with severe disease reached the highest points, accompanied with an increase in the density score. Conclusion: CT scanning can accurately assess the severity of COVID-19, and help to monitor disease transformation during follow-up among different clinical conditions.