The chest CT appearance of SARS / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To report the CT app earances in SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). Methods Nine chest CT scanning examinations were performed in 6 cases of SARS that were verified by the clinic. CT films were acquired with standard pulmonary window, mediastinal window, and wide window, respectively.CT imaging appearances were summarized. Results In 5 of the 6 cases, multi-lobar or multi-segmental consolidations of bilateral lungs were detected. There was no distribution tendency for any specific pulmonary lobes or segments. The big consolidation and small multiple consolidations existed simultaneously. The big range of consolidation manifested as the bilateral or unilateral pulmonary segment consolidation that distributing along the bronchi tree. There was the air bronchogram in the consolidation. Each consolidation expanded along the pulmonary segment and mixed together to form a pulmonary segment consolidation, or even a whole pulmonary lobe consolidation. The foci that crossed the interlobar fissure were not observed. The small foci manifested as the bilateral multiple oval foci, which distributed along the lung markings. The big consolidation could appear as homogeneous densification, ground-glass appearance, or honeycomb consolidation. The ground-glass appearance could appear in cases of first visiting and in cases of recovery period. The pleural thickened was common and hydrothorax was rare. The mediastinal lymph node enlargement was not observed. Conclusion The limited SARS cases show a tendency that the pathological changes disseminate along broncho-alveolar system when SARS is developing.