Coronavírus

CT FINDINGS IN A CASE OF SEVERE COMPLICATED COVID-19

Dante Luiz Escuissato ¹, Flávia Sprenger ², João Mário Clementin de Andrade ³

Abstracto

We present a case of a 62-year-old hypertensive and diabetic female that presented with severe pneumonia due to SARS-COV2 and required mechanical ventilation. Six days after intensive care unit admission she underwent computerized tomography due to clinical suspicion of bacterial secondary infection, which was confirmed by tomographic signs. This case is an important example of a classic and well indicated imaging exam in a case of COVID-19.

Dados do caso

Feminino 62 anos

Palavras chaves

Pneumonia, Pneumonia Viral, Pneumonia Bacteriana

Histórico Clínico

A 62-year-old hypertensive and diabetic female patient presented to the emergency room with recent installation of fever and cough. After initial evaluation, she was admitted in the intensive care unit and required mechanical ventilation due to respiratory failure. COVID-19 diagnosis was made through PCR testing.

Achados Radiológicos

Chest radiograph was performed in the intensive care unit, revealing bilateral, predominantly peripheral and lower lung zone airspace opacities. Six days later patient underwent chest computerized tomography (CT) due to clinical suspicion of secondary bacterial infection. The chest- CT showed bilateral ground glass opacities with a predominant peripheral and lower lung zone distribution, probably related to COVID-19 and minimal bilateral effusion, bronchial impaction and collapse of the lower left lung, that can be with clinical hypothesis.

Discussão

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a currently pandemic viral infection that may cause severe acute respiratory syndrome. Morbimortality is particularly higher amongst the elderly and patients with chronic diseases. Diagnosis is made through PCR detection of SARS-CoV2 [1]. Though most recommendations discourage the use of chest-CT as a screening tool, the number of patients undergoing imaging is increasing. Therefore, it is fundamental to radiologists recognise promptly signs that may suggest COVID-19[1]. Main findings include ground glass opacities with or without foci of consolidations with a predominant peripheral and posterior distribution, reverse halo sign and others organizing pneumonia features, diffuse opacities and areas with crazy paving pattern. Tree-in-bud centrilobular nodules, cavitation, isolated consolidation and septal thickening are considered atypical manifestations. Lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion are also not expected. Positive findings are more prevalent between six and thirteen days after initial symptoms [1]. Posterior and peripheral distributed ground glass opacities are the tomographic face of COVID-19. Computerized tomography is more sensitive than conventional radiographs and imaging can be negative, especially on the beginning of the symptoms [1]. Patient underwent CT due to recent leukocytosis, to search for signs of bacterial superinfection. On this clinical context, the finding of hypodense content on bronchi can relate to secondary infection. Antibiotic therapy was instituted, and the patient showed clinical improvement. Despite divergence and uncertainty in the literature, image methods have not been performed in most inpatients with COVID-19. Chest radiographs are useful and preferable in some clinical scenarios. Chest-CT is resourceful in suspicion of complications and differential diagnosis. Prognosis cannot be officially stated according to CT findings [2]. As radiologist, it is our responsibility to actively search for typical and atypical signs of viral pneumonia and its differential diagnosis.

Lista de Diferenciais

Other viral pneumonias
Primary bacterial pneumonia

Diagnóstico

Severe COVID-19 complicated pneumonia

Aprendizado

We learned from this case to be alert to signs of COVID-19 but also signs of complications, in this case, secondary bacterial infection.

Referências

Simpson S, Kay FU, Abbara S, Bhalla S, Chung, JH, Chung M, et al. (2020). Radiological Society of North America Expert Consensus Statement on Reporting Chest CT Findings Related to COVID-19. Endorsed by the Society of Thoracic Radiology, the American College of Radiology, and RSNA (in press). Published Online: Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1148/ryct.2020200152).
[2] Salehi S, Abedi A, Balakrishnan S, Gholamreznanezhad A (2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Systematic Review of Imaging Findings in 919 Patients. AJR. 215: p. 1-7. (DOI: doi.org/10.2214/AJR.20.23034).

Imagens

Figure 1: Chest radiograph performed at the admission in the intensive care unit. Notice multiple and bilateral foci of alveolar opacities, more evident in the lower right lung.

Figure 2: Axial images of CT performed six days later after intensive care unit admission. Multiple and bilateral ground glass opacities, with a predominant peripheral and basal distribution.