Artificial intelligence computed tomography helps evaluate the severity of COVID-19 patients: A retrospective study / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) is a noninvasive imaging approach to assist the early diagnosis of pneumonia. However, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) shares similar imaging features with other types of pneumonia, which makes differential diagnosis problematic. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been proven successful in the medical imaging field, which has helped disease identification. However, whether AI can be used to identify the severity of COVID-19 is still underdetermined. METHODS: Data were extracted from 140 patients with confirmed COVID-19. The severity of COVID-19 patients (severe vs. non-severe) was defined at admission, according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The AI-CT rating system constructed by Hangzhou YITU Healthcare Technology Co., Ltd. was used as the analysis tool to analyze chest CT images. RESULTS: A total of 117 diagnosed cases were enrolled, with 40 severe cases and 77 non-severe cases. Severe patients had more dyspnea symptoms on admission (12 vs. 3), higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II (9 vs. 4) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) (3 vs. 1) scores, as well as higher CT semiquantitative rating scores (4 vs. 1) and AI-CT rating scores than non-severe patients (P<0.001). The AI-CT score was more predictive of the severity of COVID-19 (AUC=0.929), and ground-glass opacity (GGO) was more predictive of further intubation and mechanical ventilation (AUC=0.836). Furthermore, the CT semiquantitative score was linearly associated with the AICT rating system (Adj R2=75.5%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: AI technology could be used to evaluate disease severity in COVID-19 patients. Although it could not be considered an independent factor, there was no doubt that GGOs displayed more predictive value for further mechanical ventilation.

CT as a first-line modality in elderly patients with stable blunt chest trauma / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#Blunt thoracic injuries are common among elderly patients and may be a common cause of morbidity and death from blunt trauma injuries. We aimed to examine the impact of chest CT on the diagnosis and change of management plan in elderly patients with stable blunt chest trauma. We hypothesized that chest CT may play an important role in providing optimal management to this subgroup of trauma patients.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on all the admitted adult blunt trauma patients between January 2014 and December 2018. Stable blunt chest trauma patients with abbreviated injury severity (AIS) < 3 for extra-thoracic injuries confirmed with chest X-ray (CXR) and chest CT on admission or during hospitalization were included in the study. The AIS is an international scale for grading the severity of anatomic injury following blunt trauma. Primary outcome variables were occult injuries, change in management, need for surgical procedures, missed injuries, readmission rate, intensive care unit (ICU) and length of hospital stay.@*RESULTS@#There are 473 patients with blunt chest trauma included in the study. The study patients were divided into two groups according to the age range: group 1: 289 patients were included and aged 18-64 years; group 2: 184 patients were included and aged 65-99 years . Elderly patients in group 2 more often required ICU admission (11.4% vs. 5.2%), had a longer length of ICU stay (days) (median 11 vs. 6, p = 0.01), and the length of hospital stay (days) (median 14 vs. 6, p = 0.04). Injuries identified on chest CT has led to a change of management in 4.4% of young patients in group 1 and in 10.9% of elderly patients in group 2 with initially normal CXR. Chest CT resulted in a change of management in 12.8% of young patients in group 1 and in 25.7% of elderly patients in group 2 with initially abnormal CXR.@*CONCLUSION@#Chest CT led to a change of management in a substantial proportion of elderly patients. Therefore, we recommend chest CT as a first-line imaging modality in patients aged over 65 years with isolated blunt chest trauma.

A Comparative Study of Chest X-ray and Chest High-resolution Computed Tomography in Blunt Trauma Chest Patients

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) scan is an accurate tool for the detection of injuries in a trauma setting and is able to find the injuries that were occult in chest X-ray (CXR). In past years, the utility of CT scan was limited to severe trauma injuries but now is used in less severely injured trauma patients. The study aimed to compare the efficacy of CXR and chest CT scans in patients with chest trauma. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Surgery of Medical Institute. For the study, we prospectively view the previous medical records of the patients who were admitted in our surgical ward for blunt chest trauma and received both CXR and high resolution CT chest scans. A total of 95 patients were included in the study. Data regarding the study were collected. Results: Out of 95 patients, 79 were males and 16 females. The mean age of the patients was 32.42 years ranging from 2 to 90 years. The most common cause for blunt trauma to the chest according to our results was a road traffic accident. We observed that CT scan is more accurate as compared to CXR in the detection of certain cases such as sternum fracture, rib fracture, scapula fracture, lung contusion, hemothorax, and pneumothorax. Conclusion: Chest CT scan is highly sensitive in the detection of thoracic injuries following blunt chest trauma. In day-to-day practice, CT scan is better in visualizing as sternum fracture, rib fracture, scapula fracture, lung contusion, hemothorax, and pneumothorax

Initial chest CT findings in COVID-19: correlation with clinical features / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

In December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a new de novo infectious disease, was first identified in Wuhan, China and quickly spread across China and around the world. The etiology was a novel betacoronavirus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Lu et al., 2020). On Mar. 11, 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) characterized COVID-19 as a global pandemic. As of Mar. 22, 2020, over 292 000 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported globally. To date, COVID-19, with its high infectivity, has killed more people than severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) combined (Wu and McGoogan, 2020).

Location of Ruptured Bullae in Secondary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

BACKGROUND: The surgical treatment of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) can be complicated by fragile lung parenchyma. The preoperative prediction of air leakage could help prevent intraoperative lung injury during manipulation of the lung. Common sites of bulla development and ruptured bullae were investigated based on computed tomography (CT) and intraoperative findings. METHODS: The study enrolled 208 patients with SSP who underwent air leak control through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). We retrospectively reviewed the sites of bulla development on preoperative CT and the rupture sites during VATS. RESULTS: Of the 135 cases of right-sided SSP, the most common rupture site was the apical segment (31.9%), followed by the azygoesophageal recess (27.4%). Of the 75 cases on the left side, the most common rupture site was the apical segment (24.0%), followed by the anterior basal segment (17.3%). CONCLUSION: The azygoesophageal recess and parenchyma along the cardiac border were common sites of bulla development and rupture. Studies of respiratory lung motion to measure the pleural pressure at the lung surface could help to determine the relationship between cardiogenic and diaphragmatic movement and bulla formation or rupture.

Influencing factors on chest CT characteristic changes in children with invasive pulmonary fungal infections / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective To analyze the characteristics of chest CT in children with invasive pulmonary fungal infections(IPFIs),and to explore the influencing factors on chest CT manifestations in children with IPFIs.Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted to select 97 children with IPFIs from October 2010 to October 2016 in the department of respiratory medicine,PICU and hematology.The children were divided into CT characteristic change group(39 cases) and CT non-characteristic change group(58 cases) according to the chest CT manifestations. Non-conditional multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent influencing factors of CT characteristic changes in children with IPFIs. Results The ratios of less than 3-year-old infants, Candida, the proportion of ICU admission in the CT characteristic change group were lower than those in the CT non-characteristic change group(P<0.05). The proportions of more than 3-year-old, neutropenia,Aspergillus,central venous catheter,hematological malig-nancies were higher than those in the CT non-characteristic change group(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the hematological malignancies was an independent influencing factor for the characteristic changes of CT in children with IPFIs.Conclusion When children with blood system malignant tumors manifest as fever,cough and other symptoms of infection,chest CT manifestations show characteristic changes,Aspergillus infection should be considered,and empirical antifungal treatment should be focused.

Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los pacientes hospitalizados con derrame pleural / Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients hospitalized with pleural effusion

El derrame pleural tiene una prevalencia mundial de aproximadamente 400 de cada 100.000 habitantes y Venezuela tiene cifras similares. Se relaciona con múltiples patologías, por lo que determinar sus características podría ayudar a obtener un mejor diagnóstico y tratamiento. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de casos, retrospectivo y descriptivo, obteniendo información de las historias de pacientes hospitalizados con derrame pleural en el servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital Dr. Domingo Luciani en el período Enero 2010- Abril 2015. Resultados: La edad promedio fue de 49±19 años, género masculino (53%). Motivo de consulta: disnea (81%), dolor torácico (44%) y tos (37%). Los síntomas: disnea (92%), dolor pleurítico (58%) y fiebre (54%). Antecedentes personales: HTA (32%), DM (22%) e IC (20%). Radiografía de tórax: (60%) derrame pleural derecho y (26%) izquierdo. Tomografía de tórax realizada en (77%). Citoquímicos: (85%) exudado (53% mononuclear y 32% polimorfonucleares). La prueba de ADA positiva en 25%, cultivo para bacterias realizado en 89 casos, positivos 18%. Bloque celular con resultado inflamatorio (80%). Biopsia pleural realizada (22%): inflamatorio (36,4%), seguido por ADC metástasico (31,8%). Estancia hospitalaria > 15 días (76%) y el diagnóstico final fue infeccioso (51%). Conclusión: Contando con estos datos clínicos- epidemiológicos se puede caracterizar el comportamiento del derrame pleural en nuestro centro para el rápido y acertado diagnóstico, igualmente proponer una investigación prospectiva donde se analice el comportamiento de dicha enfermedad, y crear protocolos de actuación(AU)

Pleural effusion has a worldwide prevalence of approximately 400 per 100,000 inhabitants and Venezuela has similar statistics. It is related to multiple pathologies, which determine their characteristics which could help for better diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A retrospective descriptive case study was conducted, obtaining information from the charts of hospitalized patients with pleural effusion in Internal Medicine Dr. Domingo Luciani Hospital Venezuela in the period January 2010-April 2015. Results: Mean age 49 ± 19 years, male genre (53%). Complaints: dyspnea (81%), chest pain (44%) and cough (37%). Symptoms: dyspnea (92%), pleuritic pain (58%) and fever (54%). Personal history: hypertension (32%), DM (22%) and HF (20%). Chest x-ray: right pleural effusion (60%), left (26%). Chest tomography performed on (77%). Cytochemical: exudate: 85% (53% mononuclear and polymorphonuclear 32%). ADA testing positive in 25%. For bacteria culture: performed in 89 cases, 18% positive. Cell block inflammatory (80%). Pleural followed by metastatic ADC (31.8%). Hospital stay> 15 days (76%) and final diagnosis was infection (51%). Cause of discharge from hospital: improvement (80%). Conclusion: Having these clinical and epidemiological data can characterize the behavior of pleural effusion for quick and accurate diagnosis(AU)

The Korean guideline for lung cancer screening

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in many countries, including Korea. The majority of patients are inoperable at the time of diagnosis because symptoms are typically manifested at an advanced stage. A recent large clinical trial demonstrated significant reduction in lung cancer mortality by using low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening. A Korean multisociety collaborative committee systematically reviewed the evidences regarding the benefits and harms of lung cancer screening, and developed an evidence-based clinical guideline. There is high-level evidence that annual screening with LDCT can reduce lung cancer mortality and all-cause mortality of high-risk individuals. The benefits of LDCT screening are modestly higher than the harms. Annual LDCT screening should be recommended to current smokers and ex-smokers (if less than 15 years have elapsed after smoking cessation) who are aged 55 to 74 years with 30 pack-years or more of smoking-history. LDCT can discover non-calcified lung nodules in 20 to 53% of the screened population, depending on the nodule positivity criteria. Individuals may undergo regular LDCT follow-up or invasive diagnostic procedures that lead to complications. Radiation-associated malignancies associated with repetitive LDCT, as well as overdiagnosis, should be considered the harms of screening. LDCT should be performed in qualified hospitals and interpreted by expert radiologists. Education and actions to stop smoking must be offered to current smokers. Chest radiograph, sputum cytology at regular intervals, and serum tumor markers should not be used as screening methods. These guidelines may be amended based on several large ongoing clinical trial results.

Diagnostic Usefulness of Routinely Performed Preoperative Chest Computed Tomography for Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: The most common site of metastases in colorectal cancer (CRC) is the liver, and the second common site is the lung (10-20%). Preoperative staging for CRC is very important. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of chest computed tomography (CT) for preoperative staging in CRC. METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2007, a total of 597 patients with colorectal cancer underwent surgery at our hospital. One hundred fifty of those patients had received chest CT preoperatively. We analyzed the chest radiologic findings from chest x-ray (CXR), abdominal CT, and chest CT. RESULTS: The detection rate of abnormal lung findings was higher in chest CT than in the other chest radiologic findings (chest PA: 10 [6.6%]; abdominal CT: 19 [12.7%]; chest CT: 48 [32.0%]). On the chest CT, 19 of the 150 (12.7%) patients that had received a chest CT preoperatively were initially suspected of having malignant lesions. Besides two primary lung malignancies (solitary nodules), metastatic lesions were revealed in 5 (3.3%), 11 (7.3%), and 17 (11.3%) patients on CXR, abdominal CT, and chest CT, respectively. Eleven (64.7%) of the patients having metastatic chest CT lesions were also identified on lower lung fields by abdominal CT. Seven also had other metastatic foci (liver and paraaortic LN). Initially, stage IV was identified in 37 (24.7%) and 40 (26.7%) patients in abdominal CT and chest CT, respectively. After one year, 11 of the 150 (7.3%) patients who had received a chest CT had been diagnosed with pulmonary metastasis. CONCLUSION: Chest computed tomography is the most sensitive method for the diagnosis of pulmonary metastases. However, if the interpretations of abdominal CT and individualized diagnostic methods are accurate, the demand for unnecessary preoperative work-up may be reduced.

Clinical analysis of 5 patients with Aspergillus necrotizing bronchitis / 中华临床感染病杂志

Objective To elucidate the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of Aspergillus necrotizing bronchitis. Methods Medical records and investigation data from 5 eases of Aspergillus necrotizing bronchitis were retrospectively analyzed, and related literatures were reviewed. Results Five patients (3 males and 2 females) with mean age of 63.6 y were enrolled in this study. All patients had histopathologically proved necrotizing aspergillosis of the large airways. Common presentations included cough, short of breath, sputum production, fever and haemoptysis. Tracheoscopy presentations included necrosis, mucous hyperemia, focal airway constriction and neoplasm. The CT findings included bronchial wall thickening, narrowing of the bronchial lumen, which was often associated with distal obstructive pneumonia. Conclusions The clinical manifestations of Aspergillus necrotizing bronchitis are nonspecific, and histopatholagical diagnosis is essential for a definite diagnosis and can be supported by tracheoscope or imaging techniques.

Anatomical Investigations for Appropriate Needle Positioning in Thoracic Paravertebral Blockade / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Thoracic paravertebral blockade (TPVB) can be effective in many clinical settings. However, many clinicians are reluctant to use this technique due to its adverse effects such as pneumothorax. The aim of this study was estimate the appropriate depth and width for safe needle positioning. METHODS: The depth from skin to the paravertebral space (PVS) and the width from the spinous process (SP) to the PVS and the lateral tip of the transverse process (LTTP) were measured in all available sections from 84 patients examined by chest computed tomography (CT). The correlation between age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and each measured value was analyzed. RESULTS: All 828 sections from the 84 patients aged between 19 and 65 years old were evaluated. The minimum and maximum values of the mean depth from the skin to PVS were 40.3-52.4 mm in men and 41.2-55.9 mm in women. The minimum and maximum values of the mean width from the SP to LTTP were 29.2-34.6 mm in men and 23.7-31.0 mm in women. At every thoracic level, the depth to PVS was similar in both genders but the width from the SP to the NEP in men was significantly higher than in women. Weight significantly influenced the width from the SP to LTTP in men but height and BMI did not. Also weight and BMI significantly influenced the depth from skin to PVS in almost all of the thoracic region at both sex, but height did not influence the depth from skin to PVS in both sex. CONCLUSIONS: We report clinically useful estimates that may be used to help avoid side effects such as pneumothorax and achieve a successful thoracic paravertebral blockade.

Quiste broncogéiico: reporte de dos casos y revisión de la literatura

El quiste broncogénico es una malformación de la porción ventral del intestino primitivo que ocasiona alteración en el desarrollo del árbol traqueo bronquial. Reportamos dos casos de quistes broncogénicos en niños, ambos con síntomas respiratorios crónicos, uno de localización mediastinal a nivel paratraqueal derecho y, el otro, intraperenquimatoso en lóbulo superior derecho. La radiográfia y tomografía de tórax permitieron evaluar el tipo de lesión, localización y tamaño, así como la compresión de la vía áerea. Ambos pacientes fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente no se presentaron complicaciones y los síntomas respiratorios desaparecieron. El estudio histopatológico confirmó el diagnóstico.

Bronchogenic cyst arises from abnormal budding of the diverticulum of the foregut that leads to abnormality of the tracheobronquial tree. We report two cases of these cysts in children with respiratory chronic symptom. One was localized in paratraqueal mediastinum and other, intrapulmonary in lower upper right side. The chest radiography and computed tomography allowed evaluation as to the type, site and size of lesion as well as airway compression. Both patients underwent surgery; there were no complications and the respiratory symptoms disappeared. Histologic features confirm the diagnosis.