Changes in CT manifestations and RT-PCR testings of the coronavirus disease 2019 until recovery in patients with afferent infection vs. second-generation infection outside the original city (Wuhan): An observational study

Sun Tang; Jing Ou; Rui Li; Xiaoming Zhang; Tian-Wu Chen; Hongjun Li

doi:10.1016/j.jrid.2020.07.007

Changes in CT manifestations and RT-PCR testings of the coronavirus disease 2019 until recovery in patients with afferent infection vs. second-generation infection outside the original city (Wuhan): An observational study

Radiol Infect Dis. 2020 Sep;7(3):123-129. doi: 10.1016/j.jrid.2020.07.007. Epub 2020 Aug 8.

Authors

Sun Tang¹, Jing Ou¹, Rui Li¹, Xiaoming Zhang¹, Tian-Wu Chen¹, Hongjun Li²

Affiliations

¹ Sichuan Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, China.
² Department of Radiology, Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate changes in CT manifestations and results of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing between afferent and second-generation coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outside the original city (Wuhan) until recovery.

Methods: We collected 26 consecutive COVID-19 patients undergoing initial and follow-up CT scans together with RT-PCR until recovery from 2 hospitals outside the original city. Seventeen patients with afferent infection and 9 with second-generation infection were assigned to Group A and B, respectively. By observing CT manifestations, we scored COVID-19, and statistically analyzed numbers of patients with changes in CT scores and RT-PCR results between stages.

Results: The total score of COVID-19 on initial CT manifestations was higher in Group A than in Group B (P < 0.05). COVID-19 progressed more frequently from stage 1-2, and relieved from stage 3-4 in Group A (P < 0.05). The similar trend in Group A could not be found in Group B. Results of RT-PCR in most of patients in Group A turned negative at stage 4 while those in Group B turned negative at stage 3 (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Changes in CT manifestation and RT-PCR result can be different between afferent and second-generation COVID-19 until recovery.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Coronavirus; Infection; Pneumonia; Polymerase chain reaction.