Fig. 1

Representative chest computed tomographic images of fatal and recovered patients with COVID-19. a-c. An elderly male recovered case confirmed with COVID-19 at different disease stages. a Axial chest CT image obtained at the onset shows diffuse ground-glass opacity (GGO) and fibrous stripes; b axial chest CT image obtained at the middle stage shows bilateral, peripheral GGO and fibrous stripes associated with smooth interlobular and intralobular septal thickening; c axial chest CT image obtained at discharge stage shows bilateral fibrous stripes and nodules. d–f An elderly male fatal case confirmed with COVID-19 at different disease stages. a Axial chest CT obtained at the onset shows bilateral diffuse GGO associated with round cystic change, local bronchial meteorology and left pleural effusion; e axial chest CT image obtained at the middle stage shows the progression of bilateral GGO, bronchial meteorology and pleural effusion; f axial chest CT image obtained near stage of death shows the progression of bilateral GGO, round cystic change, bronchial meteorology, and increase of pleural effusion