The correlation between high resolution CT findings and recovery of respiratory function tests in SARS patients in the convalescent phase
LAN Ri-hui1, ZENG Qing-si1, SUN Chong-peng1, CHEN Ling1, ZHENG Ze-guang2, ZHENG Jin-ping2, WU Hua2
1.Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China;2.Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China
Abstract Objective: To study the correlation between high resolution CT(HRCT) findings, recovery of respiratory function tests and clinical data of SARS patients in the convalescent phase. Methods: Forty-nine patients with confirmed SARS underwent initial thin-section CT and forty patients underwent respiratory function tests. Sixteen and thirteen patients underwent follow-up examination. The clinical data were retrospectively analysed. CT visual score were quantitatively analyzed for lung abnormalities. Results: Ground-glass opacities and interstitial opacities were found in 25(51%), 22(45%) of the 49 patients on initial HRCT and in 6(38%), 7(44%) of the 16 patients on the follow-up HRCT examinations. The initial and follow-up CT visual score indicated a significant reduction in the extent of ground-glass opacity(P<0.001) but not in that of interstitial opacity. Scan from patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) had a significantly higher score for ground-glass opacity than did those from patients without ARDS(P<0.05). Dlco％ were correlated with sex and ground-glass opacity score. Conclusion: HRCT findings were correlated with clinical data, laboratory tests and respiratory function tests, residual abnormalities and respiratory function tend to be better over the time, but interstitial opacity persists.
LAN Ri-hui,ZENG Qing-si,SUN Chong-peng, et al. The correlation between high resolution CT findings and recovery of respiratory function tests in SARS patients in the convalescent phase[J]. , 2006, 17(11): 608-612.
2006, Vol. 17 
