CT Imaging Features of Patients with COVID-19 at a Tertiary Care Hospital: Experience from Pakistan
Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients’ manifest symptoms of mild to severe disease leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ dysfunction. Chest computed tomography (CT) is considered one of the important modalities for the diagnosis and assessment of progression of disease. Bilateral ground glass opacification with a predominant peripheral distribution seen with consolidation and interstitial thickening on CT scan are currently considered the radiological hallmarks of the disease. Objective: The objective of the present study is to determine the salient features of CT chest in patients with COVID-19 from the largest tertiary care centre in Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology: This cross-sectional research study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital from April 2020 to December 2020. Adult patients who had a positive COVID-19 PCR and underwent a chest CT scan were included in the study. Patients were scanned in supine position using either non-contrast high-resolution CT (HRCT), arterial phase chest CT, or CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA). The CT findings recorded included presence or absence of ground glass opacity (GGO), consolidation, air bronchogram, vascular enlargement, linear opacities, crazy paving, halo sign, reverse halo sign, fibrosis, cavities, tree in bud, mediastinal/hilar lymphadenopathy, pleural effusion, and any additional finding such as pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, or traction bronchiectasis. Results: Of 110 patients, 70 (63.7%) were males and 40 (36.3%) were females, with a mean age of 56.5 ± 14.8 years (range 46–67 years). Ground glass opacity (GGO) was the most common (79.1%) CT feature, followed by consolidation (56.4%), linear opacities (40%), and crazy paving patterns (32.7%). The common distribution of the abnormalities according to HRCT and contrast CT were peripheral (54.1%) and both peripheral and central (60%), respectively. Conclusion: GGO is the most common CT scan feature in patients with COVID-19, followed by consolidation, linear opacities, and the crazy paving pattern. Keywords: Coronavirus; COVID-19; Computed Tomography; HRCT; Ground Glass Opacity
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7221236382