Clinical diagnostic value and safety of low-dose computed tomography scanning in elderly patients with suspected acute lower respiratory tract infection

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical diagnostic value and safety of low dose computerized tomography (CT) in elderly patients with suspected acute lower respiratory tract infection. Methods From September 2016 to August 2018, a total of 92 elderly patients with suspected acute lower respiratory tract infection in Shenzhen Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Futian) were randomly divided into observation group and control group groups (46 cases in each group). Among whom, patients in control group were diagnosed by routine dose CT scanning, and patients in observation group were with low dose CT scanning. The diagnostic efficacy and radiation dose were compared between the two groups, and the diagnostic value of low-dose CT in acute lower respiratory tract infection was analyzed. Results The positive rates of CT in patients with suspected acute lower respiratory tract infection were 86.96% and 82.61% of patients in control group and observation group, respectively, with significant difference (χ2 = 0.733, P = 0.392). There was no significant difference in sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CT in the diagnosis of suspected acute lower respiratory tract infection between the two groups (all P > 0 05). The average radiation dose in the observation group was (1.28 ± 0.26) mSv, which was significantly lower than that of the control group [(3.12 ± 0.36) mSv], with significant difference (t = 28.102, P < 0.001). Conclusion The diagnostic value of low-dose CT in elderly patients with suspected acute lower respiratory tract infection is similar to that of routine-dose CT, and the radiation dose is small and safe. Key words: Acute lower respiratory tract infection; Low-dose computed tomography; Diagnosis; Suspected case