Elsevier

Radiology Case Reports

Volume 16, Issue 2, February 2021, Pages 361-363
Radiology Case Reports

Case Report
Fatal pulmonary fibrosis complicating COVID-19 infection in preexistent emphysema

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radcr.2020.11.050Get rights and content
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Abstract

Only a few earlier clinical radiologic reports exist describing post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. We report a case of 74-year-old woman referred with dizziness and hypoxemic respiratory failure with chest high resolution computer tomography (HRCT) showing ground glass opacities and emphysema. The patient was tested for Sars-CoV-2 and resulted positive, she was treated with medical therapy and supported with mechanical ventilation. Despite initial clinical and radiological improvements, subsequently the respiratory failure worsened as ground glass opacities evolved, with the appearance of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema and the patient eventually died. Development of pulmonary fibrosis after SARS-CoV-2 infection and the overlap with preexistent emphysema could be a fatal complication.

Keywords

Covid-19
SARS virus
Respiratory insufficiency
Pulmonary emphysema
Pulmonary fibrosis

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Declarations of competing interest: None.