Radiographic appearance and clinical outcome correlates in 26 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the appearance of chest radiographs in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and correlate these findings with clinical outcomes.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the initial radiograph and a series of follow-up chest radiographs in 26 patients who had symptoms and signs consistent with SARS. Twenty-five patients completed the full course of radiographs in the hospital. The initial radiographic features and the distribution of parenchymal, mediastinal, and pleural abnormalities for each patient were evaluated. Follow-up radiographic findings were correlated with clinical outcomes for these patients.

Results: Initial chest radiographs showed abnormalities in 23 (88%) of 26 subjects. Eighteen patients (69%) had air-space consolidation, two (8%) had ground-glass attenuation, one (4%) had nodules, and two (8%) had mixed consolidation and nodules. Four patients (15%) had pleural effusion. Younger patients and those with normal initial radiographic findings or unifocal lung lesions had better outcomes.

Conclusion: The initial predominant radiographic feature of SARS was air-space consolidation in the lateral and lower lung zones. Progressive deterioration to diffuse unilateral or bilateral consolidation in the series of follow-up chest radiographs is associated with a poor prognosis.