CT of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) versus CT of influenza virus
pneumonia

Date:
July 9, 2020
Source:
American Roentgen Ray Society
Summary:
A new article investigating the differences in CT findings between
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia and influenza virus
pneumonia found that most lesions from COVID-19 were located in the
peripheral zone and close to the pleura, whereas influenza virus
was more prone to show mucoid impaction and pleural effusion. The
more important role of CT during the present pandemic is in finding
lesions and evaluating the effects of treatment.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
An open-access American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) article
investigating the differences in CT findings between coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia and influenza virus pneumonia found that most
lesions from COVID-19 were located in the peripheral zone and close
to the pleura, whereas influenza virus was more prone to show mucoid
impaction and pleural effusion.


========================================================================== "However," lead author Liaoyi Lin of China's First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University cautioned, "differentiating between COVID-19 pneumonia and influenza virus pneumonia in clinical practice remains difficult." A total of 97 patients (49 women, 48 men) were enrolled
in this study. Of them, 52 patients (29 men, 23 women; age range,
21-73 years) had COVID-19 pneumonia; 45 patients (26 women, 19 men; age
range, 15-76 years) had influenza virus pneumonia (28, influenza A; 17, influenza B). All patients had positive nucleic acid testing results for
the respective viruses, as well as complete clinical data and CT images.

According to Lin and colleagues: "Between the group of patients with
COVID-19 pneumonia and the group of patients with influenza virus
pneumonia, the largest lesion close to the pleura (i.e., no pulmonary parenchyma between the lesion and the pleura), mucoid impaction, presence
of pleural effusion, and axial distribution showed statistical difference
(p < 0.05)." Meanwhile, Lin et al. noted that the properties of the
largest lesion, presence of ground-glass opacities, consolidation,
mosaic attenuation, bronchial wall thickening, centrilobular nodules, interlobular septal thickening, crazy paving pattern, air bronchogram, unilateral or bilateral distribution, and longitudinal distribution did
not show significant differences (p > 0.05).

Additionally, the authors observed no significant difference (p > 0.05)
in CT score, length of the largest lesion, mean density, volume, or mass
of the lesions between the two groups.

Because the CT manifestations of COVID-19 and influenza virus so often
overlap, "even with the characteristics evaluated using AI software,"
Lin et al. wrote, "no significant differences were detected." Thus,
the authors of this AJR article concluded that the more important role
of CT during the present pandemic is in finding lesions and evaluating
the effects of treatment.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Roentgen_Ray_Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Liaoyi Lin, Gangze Fu, Shuangli Chen, Jiejie Tao, Andan Qian, Yunjun
Yang, Meihao Wang. CT Manifestations of Coronavirus Disease
(COVID-19) Pneumonia and Influenza Virus Pneumonia: A Comparative
Study. American Journal of Roentgenology, 2020; 1 DOI:
10.2214/AJR.20.23304 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200709172828.htm

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