Dynamic Imaging Changes of COVID-19 Pneumonia at Different Stages

Title:Dynamic Imaging Changes of COVID-19 Pneumonia at Different Stages

Volume: 18

Author(s): Xiao-Yan Lv, Wei-Hong Xing, Xi Ma, Li-Hong Xing, Yu Zhang, Yi-Bo Lu, Li Dong, Meng Zheng, Xiao-Ping Yin*, Wei-Min An*Bu-Lang Gao*

Affiliation:

• Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, 071000, China

• Department of Radiology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100 West Fourth Ring Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100039, China

• Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, 071000, China

Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 virus, radiography, viral infection, imaging, dynamic changes.

Abstract:

Introduction: To investigate the Computed Tomography (CT) imaging characteristics and dynamic changes of COVID-19 pneumonia at different stages.

Methods: Forty-six patients infected with COVID-19 who had chest CT scans were enrolled, and CT scans were performed 4-6 times with an interval of 2-5 days.

Results: At the early stage (n=25), ground glass opacity was presented in 11 patients (11/25 or 44.0 %) and ground glass opacity mixed with consolidation in 13 (13/25 or 52.0 %) in the lung CT images. At the progressive stage (n=38), ground glass opacity was presented in only one patient (1/38 or 2.6 %) and ground glass opacity mixed with consolidation in 33 (33/38 or 86.8 %). In the early improvement stage (n=38), the imaging presentation was ground glass opacity alone in three patients (3/38 or 7.9 %) and ground glass opacity mixed with consolidation in 34 (34/38 or 89.5 %). In the late improvement (absorption) stage (n=33), the primary imaging presentation was ground glass presentation in eight patients (8/33 or 24.2 %) and ground glass opacity mixed with consolidation in 23 (23/33 or 69.7 %). The lesion reached the peak at 4-16 days after disease onset, and 26 (26/38 or 68.4 %) patients reached the disease peak within ten days. Starting from 6 to 20 days after onset, the disease began to be improved, with 30 (30/38 or 78.9 %) patients being improved within 15 days.

Conclusion: COVID-19 pneumonia will progress to the peak stage at a mediate time of seven days and enter the improvement stage at twelve days. Computed tomography imaging of the pulmonary lesion has a common pattern from disease onset to improvement and recovery and provides important information for evaluation of the disease course and treatment effect.

Cite this article as:

Lv Xiao-Yan, Xing Wei-Hong, Ma Xi, Xing Li-Hong , Zhang Yu , Lu Yi-Bo , Dong Li , Zheng Meng , Yin Xiao-Ping*, An Wei-Min*, Gao Bu-Lang *, Dynamic Imaging Changes of COVID-19 Pneumonia at Different Stages, Current Medical Imaging 2022; 18 (8) : e241121198247 . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573405617666211124092225

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573405617666211124092225	Print ISSN 1573-4056
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1875-6603