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Research Article
Tao Li
PLA General Hospital
Corresponding Author
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Objective: To determine the CT role in the early detection of COVID-19 infection and serial CT changes in disease course in the patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
Methods: From January 21 to February 18, 2020, all the patients who were suspected of novel coronavirus infection and verified by RT-PCR test were retrospectively enrolled in our study. All the patients underwent serial RT-PCR tests and serial CT imaging. The time correlation between serial RT-PCR results (negative conversion to positive, positive to negative) and serial CT imaging was investigated, and serial CT changes were evaluated.
Results: One hundred and fifty-five patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia were evaluated. The time of chest CT detection of COVID-19 pneumonia was 2.61 days earlier than RT-PCR test (p=0.000). The time of lung CT improvement was significantly shorter than that of RT-PCR conversion to negative (p=0.000). Three stages were identified from the onset of the initial symptoms: Stage 1 (0-3 days); Stage 2 (4-7 days); and stage 3 (8-14 days and later). Ground glass opacity (GGO) was predominant on stage 1, then consolidation and crazy paving sign were dramatically increased on stage 2. On stage 3, fibrotic lesion was growing largely. There was significant difference for the main CT features (p=0.000), the number of involved lobes (p=0.001), and lesion distribution ( p=0.000) among different stages.
Conclusion: Chest CT was earlier to detect COVID-19 pneumonia compared to RT-PCR results and monitor disease course. Combined imaging features with epidemiology history and clinical information could facilitate early diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.
Keywords
COVID-19 pneumonia, infection, chest
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A new preprint design is coming!
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This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Research Article
Tao Li
PLA General Hospital
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 24 Apr, 2020
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Infectious Diseases
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Objective: To determine the CT role in the early detection of COVID-19 infection and serial CT changes in disease course in the patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
Methods: From January 21 to February 18, 2020, all the patients who were suspected of novel coronavirus infection and verified by RT-PCR test were retrospectively enrolled in our study. All the patients underwent serial RT-PCR tests and serial CT imaging. The time correlation between serial RT-PCR results (negative conversion to positive, positive to negative) and serial CT imaging was investigated, and serial CT changes were evaluated.
Results: One hundred and fifty-five patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia were evaluated. The time of chest CT detection of COVID-19 pneumonia was 2.61 days earlier than RT-PCR test (p=0.000). The time of lung CT improvement was significantly shorter than that of RT-PCR conversion to negative (p=0.000). Three stages were identified from the onset of the initial symptoms: Stage 1 (0-3 days); Stage 2 (4-7 days); and stage 3 (8-14 days and later). Ground glass opacity (GGO) was predominant on stage 1, then consolidation and crazy paving sign were dramatically increased on stage 2. On stage 3, fibrotic lesion was growing largely. There was significant difference for the main CT features (p=0.000), the number of involved lobes (p=0.001), and lesion distribution ( p=0.000) among different stages.
Conclusion: Chest CT was earlier to detect COVID-19 pneumonia compared to RT-PCR results and monitor disease course. Combined imaging features with epidemiology history and clinical information could facilitate early diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
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