Chest X-ray appearances in SARS: analysis of 72 cases / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the chest X-ray appearances and dynamic imaging changes in severe acute respiratory syndrome diagnosed clinically. Methods The sequential chest X-ray examinations at 1-4 day intervals were performed in 72 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. Results The findings on chest X-ray images were analyzed. The abnormalities on the chest X-ray films most commonly occurred at 4-7 days after onset (53 cases, 73.6%), and the most severe manifestations on the chest films usually presented at 8-14 days (54 cases, 75.0%). The absorption of the abnormal changes on the films occurred at 15-21 days in most cases (37 cases, 51.4%). The main features included bilateral or unilateral single or multiple patchy shadows (58 cases, 80.6%), and the lesions changed rapidly at the peak period. The lesions presented wandering features in some cases. The lesions still remained on CT scans in 11 cases (11/20, 55.0%) within one month after the absorption on X-ray film. Conclusion The chest radiography can be used to display dynamic changes of SARS, but it isn't able to distinctly demonstrate tine pulmonary lesions of SARS.