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Follow-up Chest CT findings from discharged patients with severe COVID-19: an 83-day observational study
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Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) has been used to be a monitoring measure to assess the severity of lung abnormalities in corona virus disease 19 (COVID-19). Up to date, there has been no reports about follow-up chest CT findings from discharge patients with severe COVID-19. This study aims to describe the change pattern of radiological abnormalities from admission, to discharge, and to the last chest CT follow-up through an 83-day retrospective observation, and focuses on follow-up chest CT findings in discharged patients with severe COVID-19.
Methods: Twenty-nine discharged patients (17 males, 12 females; median age, 56 years, IQR, 47-67) confirmed with severe COVID-19 from 13 January to 15 February were enrolled in this study. A total of 80 chest CT scans was performed from admission to the last follow-up. Images were mainly evaluated for ground-glass opacity, consolidation, parenchymal bands, and crazy-paving pattern. A semi-quantitative CT scoring system was used for estimating lung abnormalities of each lobe.
Results: All patients received nasal cannula or/and high-flow mask oxygen therapy. Admission occurred 9 days (IQR, 5-13) after symptom onset. The median in-hospital period was 18 days (IQR, 11-26). The last follow-up chest CT was performed 66 days (IQR, 61-77) after symptom onset. Total CT scores in follow-up decreased significantly compared to that of performed in-hospital ([3, IQR, 0-5] to [13, IQR, 10-16], P < 0.001). Predominant patterns on follow-up chest CT performed 64 days after symptom onset were subpleural parenchymal bands (47%, 9/19) and complete radiological resolution (37%, 7/19). Consolidation absorbed earlier than ground-glass opacity did, and subpleural parenchymal bands were the longest-lasting feature during radiological resolution.
Conclusions: Radiological abnormalities in patients of severe COVID-19 could be completely absorbed with no residual lung injury in more than two months’ follow-up. Serial chest CT scans could be used as a monitoring modality to help clinician better understand the disease course.
Keywords
X-Ray Computed Tomography, COVID-19, Pneumonia, Viral, Follow-up Studies
Citation
Tianhe Ye, Yanqing Fan, Jiacheng Liu et al. Follow-up Chest CT findings from discharged patients with severe COVID-19: an 83-day observational study, 12 May 2020, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [+https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-27359/v1+]
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CURRENT STATUS: Posted
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Posted 12 May, 2020
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Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
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