CT Manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and the Semi-Quantitative Evaluation of Its Clinical Classification

Purpose: To improve the understanding of the manifestations associated with computed tomography (CT) in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: An analysis of a retrospective nature was carried out on clinically-based data as well as CT manifestations in 102 patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis who were admitted to our hospital between the 24th of January, 2020 and the 5th of February, 2020. Scoring of CT manifestations was accomplished, and the total score was used to determine the severity of lung injury. Results: Of the 102 patients, 10 had mild COVID-19, 72 had COVID-19 that was classed as moderate, 16 had COVID-19 that was severe, and 4 had COVID-19 that was critically severe. In all, 92 patients developed lung lesions, among whom 85 showed bilateral lung involvement. Superior lobe lesions and lesions in the middle-inner zone of the lung less frequently affected patients who developed moderate COVID-19 as compared to patients who developed severe/critically severe COVID-19 (all P < 0.05). The lesion manifestations included ground-glass opacity shadows (98.9%) and mixed-density shadows with consolidation (45.7%). Lamellar lesions and interlobular septal thickening less frequently affected patients with COVID-19 that was moderate than in patients with COVID-19 that was severe or critically severe (P < 0.05). In terms of COVID-19 that was moderate, severe or critically severe, the average scores associated with CT were 10.68 ± 6.32, 22.31 ± 8.07, and 30.75 ± 1.89 points respectively. A cumulative CT score of ≤ 20 points was the critical point for distinguishing moderate COVID-19 from severe/critically severe COVID-19. Conclusion: With regards to CT manifestations that were associated with COVID-19, certain characteristics were demonstrated and these varied in relation to different classifications of COVID-19. Cumulative CT score could be used to evaluate the clinical classification and degree of lung damage in patients who develop COVID-19.