The diagnostic value of chest CT imaging in differential diagnosis between common-type COVID-19 and mycoplasma pneumonia

Abstract

Objective To explore the value of chest CT scan in the differential diagnosis between common-type COVID-19 and Mycoplasma Pneumonia (MP). Methods The clinical and imaging data of the patients with COVID-19 (diagnosed in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, the Fourth People's Hospital of Jining City and the Second People's Hospital of Jining City) and of the patients with MP (diagnosed in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University) were analyzed retrospectively. 43 patients with common-type COVID-19, including 28 males and 15 females, with an average age of (43 ± 14) years, were enrolled as COVID-19 group, and 50 patients with MP, including 19 males and 31 females, with an average age of (37 ± 14) years, were enrolled as MP group. The clinical manifestations, laboratory results and chest CT findings of these two groups were statistically analyzed. Results (1) Clinical manifestations: there were more patients with muscle ache and asthenia in covid-19 group than in MP group (χ2 = 5.110, 4.834, P 0.05). (2) Laboratory examination: the level of procalcitonin in covid-19 group was lower than that in MP group (χ2 = 12.263, P = 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the two groups in leukocyte count, lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (Z = -1.117, χ2= 2.410, 0.787, 0.800, P> 0.05). (3) Chest CT findings: Patients with double lung involvement in the covid-19 group were more than those in the MP group (χ2 = 30.012, P 0.05). There were more patients with ground glass shadow, paving stone sign and air bronchus sign in covid-19 group than in MP group (χ2= 30.171, 19.119, 9.790, P< 0.05), while the patients with pulmonary consolidation shadow, central lobular nodule and centripetal thickening of bronchus wall were significantly lower than those in MP group (χ2= 25.450, 33.532, 48.553, P< 0.001). Conclusions The clinical manifestations and laboratory examination of patients have limited value in the differential diagnosis of common-type COVID-19 and MP, while chest CT is of great value in the early differential diagnosis of these two diseases. Key words: COVID-19; Mycoplasma pneumonia; Tomography, X-ray computer; Diagnosis, differential