Analysis of Clinical and Imaging Characteristics of Suspected and Confirmed COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and chest CT imaging characteristics of patients with confirmed COVID-19 (COVID-19) and patients with suspected COVID-19. Methods: The study time span was from February 2020 to May 2020. The case samples were selected from 72 patients with confirmed covid-19 and suspected covid-19 diagnosed and treated by The First People’s Hospital of Yinchuan and Yinchuan Temporary Emergency Hospital, including 38 patients with confirmed covid-19 and 34 patients with suspected covid-19. All patients underwent laboratory examination and chest CT examination, and the specific examination results were compared and analyzed. Results: There were significant differences in number of white blood cell, percentage of lymphocytes, creatine kinase and erythrocyte sedimentation rate between confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients (P<0.05). The CT imaging characteristics of COVID-19 patients were compared with those of suspected COVID-19 patients. The lesions of COVID-19 patients were mostly characterized by mixed ground glass density and pure ground glass density. There were vascular thickening and interstitial thickness increase, and accompanied by bronchiectasis or air bronchogram. The distribution of lesions was mostly subpleural without pleural effusion. The lesion area of suspected COVID-19 patients mostly showed solid density and mixed ground glass density. The lesion was distributed along bronchovascular and pleural effusion was observed. Conclusion: There are some differences in biochemical indexes and chest CT images between confirmed and suspected covid-19 patients, which can be used for differential diagnosis.