Clinical and imaging findings in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Zhao, Zhenjun; Liang, Changhong; Zhang, Jin'e; Zhang, Rumian; He, Hui

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical and imaging characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and to study their relationship. METHODS Forty-six SARS confirmed patients were admitted to our hospital from February to April, 2003. X-ray examination documents were available in all cases and chest CT scanning was acquired in 6 cases, which were analyzed retrospectively, accompanied by their clinical features. RESULTS Fever was found in 97.8% of the patients. Clinical symptoms were mild, but X-ray and CT findings were distinct. CT scanning demonstrated ground glass like lesions and large patchy exudation and consolidation at the early stage in 6 cases. Different findings on radiography and CT were related to the different phases of the disease. After treatment, most lesions were absorbed completely, but slowly in patients with multi-lobe consolidation and/or extensive interstitial infiltration. CONCLUSION Special clinical and imaging findings could be found in SARS cases. The prognosis of SARS patients is related to the degree of lesions detected by radiography and CT.