High-Resolution Computed Tomography in the Differential Diagnosis between Imported COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Pneumonia

Background: Nowadays, the world is facing COVID-19 pandemic, and seasonal influenza is also sweeping the world. Therefore, it is essential to make an early differential diagnosis between imported COVID-19 and seasonal influenza pneumonia. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging characteristics for imported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and seasonal influenza pneumonia. Methods: The HRCT imaging features with 22 cases of imported COVID-19 and 39 cases of seasonal influenza pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed in the current study. The patients with COVID-19 or influenza were diagnosed according to the World Health Organization guidelines and were confirmed following positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analysis of respiratory secretion samples. Results: Both imported COVID-19 and influenza demonstrated multiple lesions. In the former, the lesions were mostly distributed in the subpleural of peripheral lung (90.9%), and some of them showed an anti-butterfly wing sign (18.2%; P<0.05). In the latter, the lesions were distributed around the bronchial vascular tree with subpleural lesions in peripheral lung (33.3%); nonetheless, they were fewer than those observed in the former (P<0.05). There were some differences in ground-glass opacity (GGO) (95.5% vs. 66.7%, respectively, P<0.05), consolidation (68.2% vs. 12.8%, respectively, P<0.05), and crazy paving sign (86.4% vs. 10.3%, respectively, P<0.05). The airairair bronchogram bronchogram bronchogram bronchogram bronchogram bronchogram bronchogram bronchogram bronchogram bronchogram bronchogram sign in the former appeared earlier than those in the latter. When both GGO lesions were mixed, the latter had more solid areas and higher density. Conclusion: The different chest HRCT features of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza pneumonia can provide considerable evidence for the early diagnosis of imported COVID-19 and seasonal influenza pneumonia and can be of great help for the prevention and control of COVID-19.