CT Imaging Features of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

TLDR

The study reviews chest CT scans of 21 symptomatic 2019‑nCoV patients to identify and characterize common imaging findings. The authors retrospectively examined CT scans from 21 symptomatic patients in China. Typical CT findings were bilateral ground‑glass and consolidative opacities with rounded, peripheral morphology, while cavitation, nodules, effusions, and lymphadenopathy were absent; follow‑up imaging often showed mild to moderate progression with increased extent and density of opacities. © RSNA, 2020.

Abstract

In this retrospective case series, chest CT scans of 21 symptomatic patients from China infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) were reviewed, with emphasis on identifying and characterizing the most common findings. Typical CT findings included bilateral pulmonary parenchymal ground-glass and consolidative pulmonary opacities, sometimes with a rounded morphology and a peripheral lung distribution. Notably, lung cavitation, discrete pulmonary nodules, pleural effusions, and lymphadenopathy were absent. Follow-up imaging in a subset of patients during the study time window often demonstrated mild or moderate progression of disease, as manifested by increasing extent and density of lung opacities. © RSNA, 2020