The major CT demonstrations were described using internationally standard nomenclature defined by the Fleischner Society glossary and peer-reviewed literature on viral pneumonia, using terms including ground glass opacity (GGO), crazy-paving pattern, and consolidation (12 (link)-14 (link)). A semi-quantitative scoring system was used to quantitatively estimate the pulmonary involvement of all these abnormalities on the basis of the area involved (15 (link)). Each of the 5 lung lobes was visually scored from 0 to 5 as: 0, no involvement; 1, <5% involvement; 2, 25% involvement; 3, 26%-49% involvement; 4, 50%-75% involvement; 5, >75% involvement. The total CT score was the sum of the individual lobar scores and ranged from 0 (no involvement) to 25 (maximum involvement).
The distribution of lung abnormalities was recorded as predominantly subpleural (involving mainly the peripheral one-third of the lung), random (without predilection for subpleural or central regions), or diffuse (continuous involvement without respect to lung segments) (16 (link)).
Image analysis was performed using the institutional digital database system (Vue PACS, version 11.3.5.8902, Carestream Health, Canada) by three radiologists (C.Z, B.L, and L.Y, who had 26, 25 and 22 years of experience in thoracic radiology, respectively) and final scores were determined by consensus.
The distribution of lung abnormalities was recorded as predominantly subpleural (involving mainly the peripheral one-third of the lung), random (without predilection for subpleural or central regions), or diffuse (continuous involvement without respect to lung segments) (16 (link)).
Image analysis was performed using the institutional digital database system (Vue PACS, version 11.3.5.8902, Carestream Health, Canada) by three radiologists (C.Z, B.L, and L.Y, who had 26, 25 and 22 years of experience in thoracic radiology, respectively) and final scores were determined by consensus.
