CT Scans Better Detecting Abnormalities in Patients with Influenza A Virus H1N1

Computed tomography (CT) scans are better than conventional X-ray radiography in showing the extent of disease in patients with the influenza A virus H1N1, according to recent research.

The study was published online October 21, 2009, in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR). The study group consisted of seven patients with the H1N1 virus. All seven patients received chest X-rays and three patients had CT scans. "All patients with CT abnormalities showed abnormal findings on the corresponding chest X-rays,” said Amr M. Ajlan, M.D., from the McGill University Health Center (Montreal, QC, Canada), and lead author of the study.

"However, the extent of involvement was more diffuse and the distribution of disease was better characterized on CT,” said Dr. Ajlan. "The strength of our study is that all CT scans performed showed a similar distribution of abnormalities, which might help physicians prospectively diagnose H1N1 using medical imaging. Most cases of H1N1 are mild and self-limited; however, high-risk patients are more likely to have severe complications. Our study suggests that CT is superior to standard chest X-rays and should be the imaging modality of choice in high-risk patients.”

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