Radiologic features of lung involvement in young patients with viral pneumonia

Abstract

Introduction: We examined young patients with verified virus pneumonia. The main clinical manifestations of the lung acute injury in this group of patients were: severe pulmonary edema, breathlessness and hemoptysis.

Aims and objectives: The aim of study was to find out main radiologic features of VP in young patients.

Methods: We analyzed 15 chest CT-scans of patients of two groups ( mean age of 31,3 + 11,4 years and 15 patients with mean age of 61,3 + 9,8 years) with verified VP. Chest CT scans were obtained on GE Optima 660, with HRCT and MDCT-angiography.

Results: In all clinical cases of VP in young patients we founded out polysegmental infiltrates. 71% of young patients demonstrate bilateral lung involvement, 29% - unilateral. In 44% of young patients, we detected ARDS and pulmonary opacifications were extending more than 2/3 lung volume. In 43% of young patients, we founded out predominant “ground-glass” pattern with thickening of interlobular septal lines. Another group of young patients (57%) demonstrated prevalence of pulmonary consolidation areas with air bronchograms, with surrounding ground-glass attenuation. The main clinical sign of VP in young patient was hemoptysis. In control group of VP patients of elder age lung involvement was not so spread. 81% of elder patients we determined bilateral polysegmental areas of increase attenuation of lung parenchyma in peripheral pulmonary zones.

Conclusion: In all VP cases we found out predominance of bilateral polysegmental “GG” pattern. In young patients we detected early emerging of alveolar infiltrates and high frequency of ARDS. Also young patients with VP demonstrated hemoptysis in all cases, so pulmonary embolism had to be ruled out by CTA.