Imaging follow up of SARS patients complicated with pulmonary fibrosis

Objective To explore the rate of occurrence and extent of pulmonary fibrosis in SARS patients. Methods A one year imaging follow up on 44 SARS patients was performed, including frontal and lateral chest X ray films, frontal X ray films of pelvis and CT scanning. Results All the 44 SARS patients, 24 cases were revealed fibrotic changes of various extent in the lungs while staying in the hospital, among which fibrosis of various extent of the lungs were found in 15 of 19 severe SARS, while in nine of 25 common type of SARS patients ( P 0.05). At time of discharge, 12 patients (27%) had existence of fibrosis in lungs. After a follow up in one month, five SARS patients (11%) showed presence of shadows of fibrotic cords in both lungs of different calibers, three (6%) after three months, and two (4%) after 6-12 months. Conclusion Pulmonary fibrosis is a commonly seen complication in SARS patients. It is more apt to occur in severe SARS patients than in common type of SARS patients. Severe SARS patients complicated with pulmonary fibrosis showed a higher severity marked by more slowly absorptive process.