Abstract: The objective was to improve the cognition of the radiological signs of the thoracic complications in SARS by evaluating the chest plain radiographs and CT images.Methods:the 950 plain chest radiographs and74chest CTscans of 182 patients with SARS were analyzed retrospectively,with focus on observing signs of the pulmonary cavities,fibrosis,pneumothorax,pneumomediastinum,subcutaneous emphysema,and pleural effusions.Results:Among the182cases with SARS,pulmonary cavities were present in 6 cases(3.3%),which were clinically diagnosed as complicated fungal infection;pleural effusion in 10 cases(5.5%);pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema in 8 cases(4.4%),and pneumothorax in 3 cases(1.6%).Additionally,pulmonary fibrosis were diagnosed in 17 cases(31.5%)out of the 54 cases who had underwent chest CT scan,and pleural thickening and adhesion in 6 cases(11.1%).Conclusion:Acomplete understanding of the chest radiological signs in patients with SARS is beneficial to the differentiation diagnosis and guides the treatment of the syndrome.

Key words: SARS, chest complications, X-ray plain radiography, computed tomography