High-resolution computed tomography in the differential diagnosis between imported covid-19 and seasonal influenza pneumonia

Abstract EN

Background: Nowadays, the world is facing COVID-19 pandemic, and seasonal influenza is also sweeping the world.

Therefore, it is essential to make an early differential diagnosis between imported COVID-19 and seasonal influenza pneumonia.

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging characteristics for imported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and seasonal influenza pneumonia.

Methods: The HRCT imaging features with 22 cases of imported COVID-19 and 39 cases of seasonal influenza pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed in the current study.

The patients with COVID-19 or influenza were diagnosed according to the World Health Organization guidelines and were confirmed following positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analysis of respiratory secretion samples.

Results: Both imported COVID-19 and influenza demonstrated multiple lesions.

In the former, the lesions were mostly distributed in the subpleural of peripheral lung (90.9%), and some of them showed an anti-butterfly wing sign (18.2%; P<0.05).

In the latter, the lesions were distributed around the bronchial vascular tree with subpleural lesions in peripheral lung (33.3%); nonetheless, they were fewer than those observed in the former (P<0.05).

There were some differences in ground-glass opacity (GGO) (95.5% vs.

66.7%, respectively, P<0.05), consolidation (68.2% vs.

12.8%, respectively, P<0.05), and crazy paving sign (86.4% vs.

10.3%, respectively, P<0.05).

The air bronchogram sign in the former appeared earlier than those in the latter.

When both GGO lesions were mixed, the latter had more solid areas and higher density.

Conclusion: The different chest HRCT features of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza pneumonia can provide considerable evidence for the early diagnosis of imported COVID-19 and seasonal influenza pneumonia and can be of great help for the prevention and control of COVID-19.