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. 2020 Oct;30(10):5463-5469.
doi: 10.1007/s00330-020-06928-0. Epub 2020 May 12.

COVID-19 pneumonia: CT findings of 122 patients and differentiation from influenza pneumonia

Mengqi Liu  1 , Wenbin Zeng  2 , Yun Wen  2 , Yineng Zheng  1 , Fajin Lv  3 , Kaihu Xiao  4
Affiliations

COVID-19 pneumonia: CT findings of 122 patients and differentiation from influenza pneumonia

Mengqi Liu et al. Eur Radiol. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the clinical and chest CT characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia and explore the radiological differences between COVID-19 and influenza.

Materials and methods: A total of 122 patients (61 men and 61 women, 48 ± 15 years) confirmed with COVID-19 and 48 patients (23 men and 25 women, 47 ± 19 years) confirmed with influenza were enrolled in the study. Thin-section CT was performed. The clinical data and the chest CT findings were recorded.

Results: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 were fever (74%) and cough (63%), and 102 patients (83%) had Wuhan contact. Pneumonia in 50 patients with COVID-19 (45%) distributed in the peripheral regions of the lung, while it showed mixed distribution in 26 patients (74%) with influenza (p = 0.022). The most common CT features of the COVID-19 group were pure ground-glass opacities (GGO, 36%), GGO with consolidation (51%), rounded opacities (35%), linear opacities (64%), bronchiolar wall thickening (49%), and interlobular septal thickening (66%). Compared with the influenza group, the COVID-19 group was more likely to have rounded opacities (35% vs. 17%, p = 0.048) and interlobular septal thickening (66% vs. 43%, p = 0.014), but less likely to have nodules (28% vs. 71%, p < 0.001), tree-in-bud sign (9% vs. 40%, p < 0.001), and pleural effusion (6% vs. 31%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: There are significant differences in the CT manifestations of patients with COVID-19 and influenza. Presence of rounded opacities and interlobular septal thickening, with the absence of nodules and tree-in-bud sign, and with the typical peripheral distribution, may help us differentiate COVID-19 from influenza.

Key points: • Typical CT features of COVID-19 include pure ground-glass opacities (GGO), GGO with consolidation, rounded opacities, bronchiolar wall thickening, interlobular septal thickening, and a peripheral distribution. • Presence of rounded opacities and interlobular septal thickening, with the absence of nodules and tree-in-bud sign, and with the typical peripheral distribution, may help us differentiate COVID-19 from influenza.

Keywords: Coronavirus infections; Human; Influenza; Pneumonia, viral; Tomography, x-ray computed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
CT features of COVID-19-related pneumonia. a Ground-glass opacities with a peripheral distribution. b Ground-glass opacities with consolidation. c Rounded GGO. d Interlobular septal thickening. e Bronchiolar wall thickening (arrow). f Nodule (arrow). g Crazy paving pattern. h Halo sign (arrow)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Most common CT features of influenza pneumonia. a Ground-glass opacities with consolidation with a peripheral distribution. b Consolidation without ground-glass opacities. c Multiple nodules and tree-in-bud sign (arrow)
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