Chest X-ray imaging of patients with SARS.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the chest X-ray manifestations of SARS cases.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted among 52 clinically confirmed SARS patients from February 9 to May 10, 2003. Chest X-ray scanning was performed at a interval of 1 - 3 days according to the requirements. The manifestations and special features of SARS in X-ray were analyzed.


RESULTS
Small or large patchy shadows with intensive density in both lungs were observed in 31 cases, ground-glass like opacification in 16, small patchy shadows in one lung lobe or one lung segment in 18, nodular shadows in one lung segment in 1, and increased lung marking in lung interstitial tissues in 2. Rapidly changing consolidations revealed in chest X-ray images were found to be associated with SARS infections, and they were not affected by treatment with antibiotics.


CONCLUSIONS
Chest X-ray provides a sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis and treatment of SARS, and those present with symptoms and signs should undergo chest X-ray scanning every 1 - 3 days.
Lu
Puxuan
P
Department of Radiology, East Lake Hospital, Shenzhen 518020, China.
Zhou
Boping
B
Chen
Xinchun
X
Yuan
Mingyuan
M
Gong
Xiaolong
X
Yang
Gendong
G
Liu
Jinqing
J
Yuan
Bentong
B
Zheng
Guangping
G
Yang
Guilin
G
Wang
Huosheng
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*