HRCT Imaging Features of the 2019 Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pneumonia

Abstract

To characterizeand further interpretthe HRCT radiological imaging signs of 2019 novel corona virus (COVID-19) pneumonia in Tamil Nadu. Where HRCT images of129patients who were diagnosed as the COVID-19 pneumoniapositive (on RT PCR)inSaveetha Medical College were included and their radiological imaging features were collected,  analyzed and further interpreted,  with the results of5cases beingcharacterized as unilateral lung involvement and 118cases as bilateral lung involvement and 6 cases showed no lung involvement on CT, the distribution were mainly subpleural (109) and the rest (14) showing diffuse distribution. And 3 cases with single focus of involvement, 120cases with multifocal involvementand 6cases showed no CT findingsand5 cases were only of pure ground glass opacity (GGO), 112 cases showing GGO associated with interstitial thickening (crazy paving pattern) and28 cases were of dense GGO with consolidatory changes; few of them had accompanying signs such as  including vascular thickening (108cases), traction bronchiectasis (65 cases), subpleural bands (43 cases), mediastinal lymphadenopathy (26 cases), pleural thickening (25 cases) and pleural effusion (4 cases). A single RT PCR proven case of COVID 19 pneumonia showed spontaneous penumomediastinum and pneumopericardium with pericardial thickening.Follow up CT examination was done in 16 patients, 10 of which turned better and 6 became worse, 2 showing complete white out so GGO, interstitial thickening and consolidatory changes are being most common HRCT features of the COVID-19 pneumoniawith, predominantlysubpleuralin distribution.