High-resolution computed tomography enhances the diagnosis and follow-up of influenza A (H1N1) virus-associated pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION

We present the findings on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of influenza A (H1N1) virus-associated pneumonia of 140 patients with acute and post-acute pneumonia, totaling 189 exams in a retrospective observational study evaluating the importance of HRCT as a diagnostic imaging method in the acute phase and in the follow-up of pneumonia.

METHODOLOGY: We performed a retrospective observational study evaluating the HRCT findings of 140 adult patients with confirmed diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia and without other associated infectious processes. Chest X-ray exams were also performed in these patients.

RESULTS

The main HRCT findings of lung involvement were airspace consolidation (57 cases), ground-glass opacities (40 cases) and an association of both aspects (43 cases), with a predominantly bilateral and peripheral distribution.

CONCLUSIONS

HRCT is able to distinguish small lesions, such as small areas of consolidation or ground glass opacities, with little increase in lung attenuation, when chest X-rays was normal, allowing a prompt diagnosis and treatment after imaging.