Abstract
BackgroundA cluster of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia were discharged from hospitals in Wuhan, China. We aimed to determine the cumulative percentage of complete radiological resolution at each time point, to explore the relevant affecting factors, and to describe the chest CT findings at different time points after hospital discharge.MethodsPatients with COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by RT-PCR who were discharged consecutively from the hospital between 5 February 2020 and 10 March 2020 and who underwent serial chest CT scans on schedule were enrolled. The radiological characteristics of all patients were collected and analysed. The total CT score was the sum of non-GGO involvement determined at discharge. Afterwards, all patients underwent chest CT scans during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd weeks after discharge. Imaging features and distributions were analysed across different time points.ResultsA total of 149 patients who completed all CT scans were evaluated; there were 67 (45.0%) men and 82 (55.0%) women, with a median age of 43 years old (IQR 36–56). The cumulative percentage of complete radiological resolution was 8.1% (12 patients), 41.6% (62), 50.3% (75), and 53.0% (79) at discharge and during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd weeks after discharge, respectively. Patients ≤44 years old showed a significantly higher cumulative percentage of complete radiological resolution than patients > 44 years old at the 3-week follow-up. The predominant patterns of abnormalities observed at discharge were ground-glass opacity (GGO) (125 [83.9%]), fibrous stripe (81 [54.4%]), and thickening of the adjacent pleura (33 [22.1%]). The positive count of GGO, fibrous stripe and thickening of the adjacent pleura gradually decreased, while GGO and fibrous stripe showed obvious resolution during the first week and the third week after discharge, respectively. “Tinted” sign and bronchovascular bundle distortion as two special features were discovered during the evolution.ConclusionLung lesions in COVID-19 pneumonia patients can be absorbed completely during short-term follow-up with no sequelae. Two weeks after discharge might be the optimal time point for early radiological estimation.
Highlights
A cluster of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia were discharged from hospitals in Wuhan, China
It has remained a concern to medical professionals and the public whether similar severe sequalae exist for COVID-19
Patients A total of 149 discharged patients previously diagnosed with COVID-19 in this single centre from 5 February 2020 to 10 March 2020 underwent serial chest Computed Tomography (CT) scans on schedule until complete radiological resolution, including 21 patients who were preliminarily reported in the previous study (3)
Summary
A cluster of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia were discharged from hospitals in Wuhan, China. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a worldwide outbreak since the first report in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Previous studies have revealed the radiological features at different stages of the disease [2,3,4], but the radiological manifestations during the convalescence period are still unclear. It has remained a concern to medical professionals and the public whether similar severe sequalae exist for COVID-19. This observational study aims to provide the radiographic manifestations of COVID-19 in discharged patients with chest CT follow-up
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