ABSTRACT
@#Objective To investigate CT image features of ground glass opacity (GGO)-like 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia (COVID-19) and early-stage lung carcinoma for control and therapy of this acute severe respiratory disease. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 71 GGO-like COVID-19 patients who received therapy in Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology between January 17th and February 13th, 2020. These 71 GGO-like COVID-19 patients were as a COVID-19 group. And 80 GGO-like early-stage lung carcinoma patients who underwent resection were as a lung carcinoma group. Clinical features such as sex, age, symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue, myalgia and dyspnea, detailed exposure history, confirmatory test (SARS-CoV-2 quantitative RT-PCR) and pathologic diagnosis were analyzed. Results Significantly different symptoms and exposure history between the two groups were detected (P<0.001). More lesions (61 patients at percentage of 85.92%, P<0.001), relative peripheral locations (69 patients at percentage of 97.18%, P<0.001) and larger opacities (65 patients at percentage of 91.55%, P<0.001) were found in chest radiographs of GGO-like COVID-19 compared with GGO-like early-stage lung carcinoma. Similar features appeared in early-stage of COVID-19 and lung carcinoma, while pneumonia developed into more extensive and basal predominant lung consolidation. Coexistence of GGO-like COVID-19 and early-stage lung carcinoma might occur. Conclusion Considering these similar and unique features of GGO-like COVID-19 and early-stage lung carcinoma, it is necessary to understand short time re-examination of chest radiographs and other diagnostic methods of these two diseases. We believe that the findings reported here are important for diagnosis and control of COVID-19 in China.
ABSTRACT
@#Objective By summarizing the clinical characteristics of perioperative patients with cross infection of novel coronavirus in thoracic surgery ward, to guide the prevention and treatment of nosocomial infection during the anti-epidemic period. Methods The clinical data of 451 patients with chest diseases in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 1st to 24th, 2020 were analyzed and followed up. There were 245 surgical patients and 206 non-surgical patients. Results In the department, 7 patients (7/451, 1.55%) were infected with the novel coronavirus and all of them were surgical patients, whose preoperative imaging data did not reveal the imaging changes of novel coronavirus. There were 5 males and 2 females, aged 56 to 68 years. The patients with old age, smoking, surgery, coronary heart disease, chronic liver disease and tumor history were more susceptible to infection. From the spatial distribution of patient beds, it was found that the distance among infected patients was greater than 1 m, and no cross infection was found in the other patients of the same ward. During follow-up, two family members of noninfected patients were found to be infected one week after discharge. However, there was no overlap of spatiotemporal distribution between the family members and the infected patients during the hospitalization period. Conclusion The novel coronavirus pneumonia rate in the department of thoracic surgery is low, which may be opportunistic infection. At the same time, a good control and prevention of epidemic disease can reduce the occurrence of cross infection in the department of thoracic surgery.
ABSTRACT
@#Objective To summarize our experience of surgical resection of multiple ground-glass opacity (GGO) in recent years. Methods Clinical data of patients who underwent one-stage resections of multiple GGO from November 2015 to May 2019 in our hospital were collected, including 13 males and 52 females at an average age of 56.0±9.4 years. The clinical effects and pathological types of GGO were evaluated. Results Time interval from first discovery to surgery was 8-1 447 (236.5±362.4) days. There were 48 patients with unilateral surgery and 17 patients with bilateral surgery during the same period. Except for 2 patients who underwent open thoracotomy due to total thoracic adhesions, other patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 12.2±4.3 days. No severe perioperative complication or death occurred. A total of 156 GGO lesions were resected, 80 lesions were pure GGO, including 58 (72.5%) malignant lesions and 22 (27.5%) benign lesions, with an average diameter of 7.7±3.3 mm and 5.5±2.6 mm, respectively. Another 76 lesions were mixed GGO, including 69 (90.8%) malignant lesions and 7 (9.2%) benign lesions, with an average diameter of 13.6±6.6 mm and 7.7±3.5 mm, respectively. Conclusion Patients with multiple GGO should be treated with anti-inflammatory therapy firstly. When conservative treatment is ineffective and no benign outcomes are observed, surgical treatment should be considered. And when lung function is sufficient for patients to underwent surgeries, the simultaneous unilateral or bilateral thoracoscopic resection is suggested, and the sublobar resection or lobectomy methods can be adopted flexibly according to the clinical features of the lesion and the rapid pathological results, which will not increase the risk of postoperative complications. Otherwise, surgical resection should be given priority for pure GGO lesions with a diameter > 7.7 mm and mixed GGO lesions.