Covid-19: Correlation of Early Chest Computed Tomography Findings With the Course of Disease.


Erturk Ş. M., Durak G., Ayyildiz H., Comert R. G., Medetalibeyoglu A., Senkal N., ...More

Journal of computer assisted tomography, vol.44, no.5, pp.633-639, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 44 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1097/rct.0000000000001073
  • Journal Name: Journal of computer assisted tomography
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.633-639
  • Keywords: CT imaging, thorax, Sars-Cov-2, Covid-19
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objective To investigate the role of chest computed tomography (CT) examinations acquired early after initial onset of symptoms in predicting disease course in coronavirus disease 2019. Methods Two hundred sixty-two patients were categorized according to intensive care unit (ICU) admission, survival, length of hospital stay, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction positivity. Mean time interval between the onset of symptoms and CT scan was 5.2 +/- 2.3 days. Groups were compared using Studentttest, Mann-WhitneyU, and Fisher exact tests. Results In the ICU (+) and died groups, crazy paving (64% and 57.1%), bronchus distortion (68% and 66.7%), bronchiectasis-bronchiolectasis (80% and 76.2%), air trapping (52% and 52.4%) and mediastinal-hilar lymph node enlargement (52% and 52.4%) were significantly more encountered (P< 0,05). These findings were correlated with longer hospital stays (P< 0.05). There were no differences between reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-positive and -negative patients except bronchiectasis-bronchiolectasis. Conclusion Computed tomography examinations performed early after the onset of symptoms may help in predicting disease course and planning of resources, such as ICU beds.