Int J Med Sci 2020; 17(17):2644-2652. doi:10.7150/ijms.48696 This issue Cite
Research Paper
1. Department of Radiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China.
2. Department of Radiology, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University); Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, China.
3. Department of Radiology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital (The first affiliate hospital of Hunan normal university), Changsha 410000, Hunan Province, China.
4. Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China.
5. Department of Chinese Medicine, First Clinical College of China Three Gorges University; Yichang 443000, Hubei Province, China.
6. Department of Ultrasonography, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China.
*These authors contributed equally to this work.
Rationale: The clinical data and corresponding dynamic CT findings were investigated in detail to describe the clinical and imaging profiles of COVID-19 pneumonia disease progression.
Methods: Forty HCWs with COVID-19 were included in this study and 30 enrolled for imaging assessment. Disease was divided into four stages based on time from onset: stage 1 (1-6 days), stage 2 (7-13 days), stage 3 (14-22 days), and stage 4 (> 22 days). Clinical wand imaging data were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: The cohort included 33 female and 7 male cases, with a median age of 40 years. Six had underlying comorbidities. More than half of the cases were nurses (22, 55%). Each stage included 39, 37, 34 and 32 CTs, respectively. Bilateral lesions, multifocal lesions and lesions with GGO pattern occurred in both lower lobes at all stages. The crazy-paving pattern (20, 54%), air bronchogram (13, 35%), and pleural effusion (2, 5%) were the most common CT features in stage 2. Consolidation score peaked in stage 2 whereas total lesions score peaked in stage 3.
Conclusions: COVID-19 pneumonia in HCWs has a potential predilection for younger female workers. Stage 2 of COVID-19 pneumonia may be the key period for controlling progression of the disease, and consolidation scores may be an objective reflection of the severity of lung involvement.
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, CT, healthcare workers