Comparative Analysis of Clinical Manifestations and CT Scores in Imported versus Secondary COVID-19 Cases in Wuhan: Prognostic Implications of CT Imaging

This study aimed to explore the characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in terms of clinical manifestations and CT scores in pneumonia patients, as well as the role of CT in prognostic follow-up. The clinical manifestations and CT data of 9 imported COVID-19 patients and 7 second - generation imported COVID-19 patients admitted to our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Siemens 16 - slice high - resolution CT was used for scanning. The clinical data of the enrolled patients were collected, and CT scores for lung lobes and segments were performed. Independent sample t - test and Fisher's exact probability method were used for comparison to analyze the clinical and imaging differences between the two groups of pneumonia patients and their relationships with prognosis. The results showed that there were no differences in clinical manifestations between the two groups of COVID-19 patients, but there were statistical differences in CT scores. Imported pneumonia patients had higher lung CT scores, more severe illness, more serious lung damage, more obvious pulmonary fibrosis during follow-up reexamination, and worse prognosis. In conclusion, imported and second - generation imported COVID-19 patients in Wuhan had common clinical manifestations but different lung CT scores. CT can be used to evaluate the severity of lung damage in COVID-19 pneumonia patients and dynamically monitor the treatment efficacy and prognosis.