scholarly journals Differential diagnosis of COVID-19 at the chest computed tomography scan: A review with special focus on cancer patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 243-257
Author(s):  
Fabiana Perrone ◽  
Maurizio Balbi ◽  
Chiara Casartelli ◽  
Sebastiano Buti ◽  
Gianluca Milanese ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Binghua Zhu ◽  
Jing Tang ◽  
Rong Fang ◽  
Xuejie Fei ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We diagnosed a clinical case of pulmonary infection involving Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Tropheryma whipplei in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The diagnosis was assisted by metagenomic next-generation sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Case presentation A 44-year-old Han Chinese inmate was transferred to the emergency department because of dry cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. The patient’s body temperature rose to 39.3 °C following empirical cephalosporin treatment for 1 week. The blood CD4+/CD8+ ratio was 0.7, suggesting immunodeficiency. Routine microbiological tests were performed, and tuberculosis interferon gamma release assays were positive. Mycobacterium tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction was also positive. Chest computed tomography scan revealed miliary nodules and ground-glass opacifications, which were in accordance with tuberculosis. To fully examine the etiology, we performed routine laboratory tests and metagenomic sequencing, the results of which indicated the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Tropheryma whipplei. We administered anti-tuberculosis regimen in combination with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The patient recovered, with chest computed tomography scan showing absorption of lesions. Conclusions Compared with traditional diagnostic methods such as culture and serology, metagenomic next-generation sequencing has the advantage of detecting a wide array of microorganisms in a single test and therefore can be used for clinical diagnosis of rare pathogens and microbial coinfections. It is particularly useful for immunocompromised patients as they are more prone to infection by opportunistic microorganisms.


2008 ◽  
Vol 109 (5) ◽  
pp. 864-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Leone ◽  
Fabienne Brégeon ◽  
François Antonini ◽  
Kathia Chaumoître ◽  
Aude Charvet ◽  
...  

Background Currently, there are limited data available describing the long-term outcomes of chest trauma survivors. Here, the authors sought to describe chest trauma survivor outcomes 6 months and 1 yr after discharge from the intensive care unit, paying special attention to pulmonary outcomes. Methods A cohort of 105 multiple trauma patients with blunt chest trauma admitted to the intensive care unit was longitudinally evaluated. After 6 months, a chest computed tomography scan, pulmonary function testing (PFT), and quality of life were collected in 55 of these patients. A subgroup of 38 patients was followed up for 1 yr. Results At least one abnormal PFT result was found in 39 patients (71%). Compared with normalized data of the age- and sex-matched population, physical function was decreased in 38 patients (70%). The 6-min walk distance was reduced for 29 patients (72%). Although pathologic images were observed on the chest computed tomography scan from 33 patients (60%), no relation was found between PFT and computed tomography. A ratio of arterial oxygen pressure to inspired oxygen fraction less than 200 at admission to the intensive care unit predicted an abnormal PFT result at 6 months. One year after discharge from the intensive care unit, paired comparisons showed a significant increase in forced vital capacity (P = 0.02) and Karnofsky Performance Status (P < 0.001). Conclusions Survivors of multiple traumas including chest trauma demonstrate a persistent decrease in the 6-min walk distance, impairment on PFT, and reduced pulmonary-specific quality of life.


Author(s):  
Nadeem Jimidar ◽  
Patrick Lauwers ◽  
Emmanuela Govaerts ◽  
Marc Claeys

Abstract Background Hamman’s sign is a rare phenomenon. Louis Hamman described this pathognomonic clicking chest noise in association with pneumomediastinum in 1937. This typical noise can also be present in left-sided pneumothorax. Clinical cases already mention this pericardial knock in 1918 in gunshot wounds of the left chest and in 1928 in cases of spontaneous left-sided pneumothorax. However, the sound itself has only rarely been recorded. Case summary We describe a case of a young man with no significant medical history who was referred to the hospital with chest pain and audible clicks, documented with his smartphone. Imaging studies including chest radiograph and computed tomography scan revealed a left-sided pneumothorax. The patient underwent semi-urgent insertion of a thorax drain. His clinical outcome was excellent. Discussion In recent years only a few case reports describe Hamman’s sign, as it is rare and happens only transiently. This case report includes the audible clicks recorded by the patient with his smartphone. We stress the importance of thoracic clicking sounds as key symptom in the differential diagnosis of left-sided pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and valvular pathology such as mitral valve prolapse.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia O. Correia ◽  
Daniel Pereira ◽  
José Miguel Maia ◽  
Ana Sofia Cipriano ◽  
Maria Manuela França ◽  
...  

We report a case of a 22-year-old man with persistent cough and sarcoidosis-like changes in computed tomography scan. An extensive differential diagnosis is discussed and its evolution and treatment is presented.


Cancer ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (11) ◽  
pp. 2495-2501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Sanderson Cox ◽  
Matthew M. Clark ◽  
James R. Jett ◽  
Christi A. Patten ◽  
Darrell R. Schroeder ◽  
...  

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