The role of chest tomography in the diagnosis of COVID-19

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to examine the diagnostic power of chest computerized tomography (CT) comparing with ‘Clinical Decision’ and RT-PCR results among the patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 disease suspicion. 
 Material and Method: This study included 162 patients who applied to the pandemic outpatient clinic between March 11 and April 11, 2020, suspected of new coronavirus infection, and had chest CT and RT-PCR tests at the same time. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy and positive odds ratio of RT-PCR and chest CT imaging are investigated for the diagnosis of COVID-19.
 Results: It was found that 56.8% (92 patients) of chest CT scans taken at admission were compatible with viral pneumonia. With the ‘Clinical Decision’, which we accept as the gold standard diagnostic method, 61.1% of the patients (99 patients) were evaluated as COVID-19 positive and treatment was started. According to clinical decision, sensitivity of chest CT was 92.9%.
 Conclusion: COVID-19 pneumonia is a serious life-threatening condition. Rapid diagnosis and early treatment are very important in terms of reducing mortality and morbidity. The chest CT might create an early diagnosis and treatment opportunity.

Analysis of the factors that affect survival among patients who developed subcutaneous emphysema monitored on COVID-19 diagnosis: single-centred research

“…The World Health Organization declared a viral pandemic in March 2020, which is also the date the first case was announced by the Ministry of Health of Turkey (3)(4)(5). Thorax CT is crucial for the early diagnosis for COVID-19 (6). The most common CT findings include ground-glass appearance with consolidations (6,7).…”

“…Thorax CT is crucial for the early diagnosis for COVID-19 (6). The most common CT findings include ground-glass appearance with consolidations (6,7). According to the published data, around 20% of the patients were monitored in intensive care units (ICUs) and they showed vascular and pulmonary complications due to COVID-19 (1)(2)(3)(4).…”