Analysis of CT image and clinical characteristics of 55 patients with corona virus disease 2019 and delayed diagnosis and treatment / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the clinical and CT imaging features of some patients diagnosed having corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with delayed diagnosis and treatment in Wuhan, Hubei Province for providing a reference for diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Methods A total of 55 patients diagnosed as having COVID-19 by RT-PCT or CT admitted to Wuhan Taikang Tongji COVID-19 Specialized Hospital from 2020-02-15 to 2020-02-25 were retrospectively analyzed. Case data were collected on the first-day history, and the chest CT, blood routine and C-response protein measurements. The clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and CT imaging features of the patients were analyzed. Results The first symptoms included fever in 33 cases (60.0%), cough in 30(54.6%) expectoration in 7(12.7%), dyspnea in 9(16.4%), chest distress in 15(27.3%), headache in 4(7.3%), fatigue in 33(60.0%), muscle soreness in 10(18.2%) and diarrhea in 7(12.7%). Most of the patients had normal white blood cell, lymphocyte and C-reactive protein levels. The imaging manifestations of CT lesions can be roughly divided into three categories stripe shadow and consolidation as main clinical manifestations (26 cases, 47.3%), stripe shadow and consolidation mixed with ground glass opacity (10 cases, 18.2%) and patchy ground glass opacity (19 cases, 34.5%). Patients with more than two lobes involved were older, while other clinical and laboratory indexes were not closely related to imaging findings. Conclusions Most of the COVID-19 patients with delayed diagnosis and treatment may improve their clinical symptoms at the time of hospitalization with normal white blood cell, lymphocyte and C-reactive protein levels. Stripe shadow, consolidation, and patchy ground glass opacity are the major CT imaging findings. The patients with extensive lesions are older than these with localized CT imaging findings.