[Roentgenography and CT appearance in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the appearance and dynamic change of chest roentgenography and CT in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).


METHODS
Serial roentgenography and CT of 61 confirmed SARS patients were analyzed.


RESULTS
The onset symptom was fever in all patients. In the early phase of SARS, the main abnormal appearance was single or bilateral localized patchy clouding opacity on roentgenography, which progressed rapidly. The area of opacity peaked at about 2 weeks, involving the majority area of the lung in 57% of the patients. The area involved was correlated with the severity of clinical symptoms. The opacity disappeared gradually in 5 weeks in 84% of the patients. Lungs complicated infection were found in 6 patients with a prolonged duration of the illness. Among the 61 patients, 4 died. CT scan was performed in 16 SARS patients in the recovery phase, of whom 13 showed lung fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Lung infiltration in early phase develops rapidly and involves most area of the lung in advanced phase in most SARS patients. Lungs fibrosis was found in some patients in the recovery phase.
Zeng
Qing-si
QS
Department of radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Chen
Ling
L
Hu
Wen-qing
WQ
Chen
Rong-chang
RC
Xiao
Zheng-lun
ZL
Zhong
Nan-shan
NS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed