Computed tomography findings in a Brazilian cohort of 48 patients with pneumonia due to coronavirus disease

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2020:53:e20200405. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0405-2020. Epub 2020 Jul 20.

Abstract

Introduction: This study was conducted to retrospectively review chest computed tomography (CT) findings in a Brazilian cohort of patients with pneumonia caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: Chest CT scans of 78 patients with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19), obtained in March and April 2020, were reviewed. Of 78 cases, the CT scans of 48 (61.5%) showed lung opacities. CT opacity features, their distribution, and the extent of infiltration were evaluated.

Results: The most common CT findings were ground-glass opacities (97.9%), crazy-paving pattern (58.3%), and mixed pattern (18.8%). Rounded lung opacities were observed most frequently (70.8%). Other findings were cystic airspace changes (37.5%), vascular dilatation (35.4%), and the organizing pneumonia pattern (14.6%). The findings were frequently bilateral (87.5%), symmetrical (68.9%), and peripheral (60.2%).

Conclusions: The most common CT findings were ground-glass opacities and the crazy-paving pattern. Involvement was mostly bilateral, symmetrical, and peripheral. Round opacity morphology was frequently observed and might have some degree of specificity to viral COVID-19 pneumonia.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Betacoronavirus
  • Brazil
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections* / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronavirus*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung* / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung* / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / diagnostic imaging
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*