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Evolution of CT Manifestations in a Patient Recovered from 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Pneumonia in Wuhan, China
A new type of pneumonia caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) broke out in December 2019 in Wuhan City, China (1,2). On January 1, 2020, a 42-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department of Union Hospital (Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei Province) due to a high-grade fever (39.6°C [103.28°C]), cough, and fatigue for 1 week. Bilateral coarse breath sounds with wet rales distributed at the bases of both lungs were heard on auscultation. Laboratory studies showed leukopenia (white blood cell count, 2.88 × 109/L) and lymphocytosis (lymphocyte cell count, 0.90 × 109/L). The white blood cell differential count displayed 56.6% neutrophils, 32.1% lymphocytes, and 10.2% monocytes. Several additional laboratory tests were abnormal, including C-reactive protein (158.95 mg/L; normal range, 0–10 mg/L), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (38 mm/h; normal range, <20 mm/h), serum amyloid A protein (607.1 mg/L; normal range, <10 mg/L), aspartate aminotransferase (53 U/L; normal range, 8–40 U/L), and alanine aminotransferase (60 U/L; normal range, 5–40 U/L). Real-time ñuorescence polymerase chain reaction of the patient’s sputum was positive for the 2019-nCoV nucleic acid. The patient was treated with antiviral drugs (ganciclovir, oseltamivir) and anti-inflammatory drugs (meropenem, linezolid), with supportive care from January 1, 2020, until his discharge on January 25, 2020. Serial imaging studies in the Figure illustrate the patient’s improvement after therapy.
A, Chest radiograph obtained on day 7 after the onset of symptoms shows opacities in the left lower and right upper lobes. B, C, CT scans obtained on day 9 show multifocal bilateral ground-glass opacities. D, CT scan obtained on day 15 shows evolution to a mixed pattern of ground-glass opacities and consolidation. E, CT scan obtained on day 19 shows healing of the consolidations and ground-glass opacities. F, CT scan obtained on day 31 shows complete resolution.
Acknowledgments
We thank all colleagues for helping us during the current study. We are also grateful to the many members of the frontline medical staff for their selfless dedication and heroic dedication in the face of this outbreak, despite the potential threat to their own lives and the lives of their families.
Footnotes
Disclosures of Conflicts of Interest: H.S. disclosed no relevant relationships. X.H. disclosed no relevant relationships. C.Z. disclosed no relevant relationships.