title: A correlation between the severity of lung lesions on radiographs and clinical findings in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to quantify lesions on chest radiographs in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and analyze the severity of the lesions with clinical parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two experienced radiologists reviewed chest radiographs of 28 patients with SARS. Each lung was divided into upper, middle, and lower zones. A SARS-related lesion in each zone was scored using a four-point scale: zero to three. The mean and maximal radiographic scores were analyzed statistically to determine if the scorings were related to the laboratory data and clinical course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forward stepwise multiple linear regression showed that the mean radiographic score correlated most significantly with the number of hospitalized days (p < 0.001). The second most significant factor was the absolute lymphocyte count (p < 0.001) and the third most significant factor was the number of days of intubation (p = 0.025). The maximal radiographic score correlated best with the percentage of lymphocytes in a leukocyte count (p < 0.001), while the second most significant factor was the number of hospitalized days (p < 0.001) and the third most significant factor was the absolute lymphocyte count (p = 0.013). The mean radiographic scores of the patients who died, with comorbidities and without a comorbidity were 11.1, 6.3 and 2.9, respectively (p = 0.032). The corresponding value for maximal radiographic scores were 17.7, 9.7 and 6.0, respectively (p = 0.033).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The severity of abnormalities quantified on chest radiographs in patients with SARS correlates with the clinical parameters.
authors: Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, Chang Gung Memorial at Linkou, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 5 Fuhsing Rd., Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan. ylw0518@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors: Yung-Liang
authors: YL
authors: Wan
authors: Pei-Kwei
authors: PK
authors: Tsay
authors: Yun-Chung
authors: YC
authors: Cheung
authors: Ping-Cherng
authors: PC
authors: Chiang
authors: Chun-Hua
authors: CH
authors: Wang
authors: Ying-Huang
authors: YH
authors: Tsai
authors: Han-Ping
authors: HP
authors: Kuo
authors: Kuo-Chien
authors: KC
authors: Tsao
authors: Tzou-Yien
authors: TY
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers