Abstract
The limitations and false-negative results of Real-time Polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) in diagnosing COVID-19 infection demand the need for imaging modalities such as chest HRCT to improve the diagnostic accuracy and assess the severity of the infection. The study aimed to compare the chest HRCT severity scores in RT-PCR positive and negative cases of COVID-19. This cross-sectional study included 50 clinically suspected COVID-19 patients. Chest HRCT and PCR testing of all 50 patients were done and the chest HRCT severity scores for each lung and bronchopulmonary segments were compared in patients with positive and negative PCR results. Chi-square and Mann Whitney U test were used to assess differences among study variables. Chest HRCT severity score was more in PCR negative patients than in those with PCR positive results. However, the difference was not significant (p=0.11). There was a significant association in severity scores of the anterior basal segment of the left lung (p=0.022) and posterior segment upper lobe of right lung (p=0.035) with PCR results. This association was insignificant for other bronchopulmonary segments (p>0.05). CR negativity does not rule out infection in clinically suspected COVID-19 patients. The use of chest HRCT helps to determine the extent of lung damage in clinically suspected patients irrespective of PCR results. Guidelines that consider clinical symptoms, chest HRCT severity score and PCR results for a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in suspected patients are needed.
Highlights
The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an emergent outbreak is a distinctive form of progressing viral pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 1
Chest High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) severity score was more in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) negative patients than in those with PCR positive results
The use of chest HRCT helps to determine the extent of lung damage in clinically suspected patients irrespective of PCR results
Summary
The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an emergent outbreak is a distinctive form of progressing viral pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 1. The unique form of viral pneumonia originated from the wet market of Wuhan city of China but has become a pandemic resulting in a global health crisis 2. The diagnosis of COVID-19 depends upon Real-Time Polymerase. Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) along with clinical symptoms and epidemiological history but the false-negative results by PCR are of a big concern to the health-care professionals [4,5]. If a patient is a clinical suspect of COVID-19 infection,. The limitations and false-negative results of Real-time Polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) in diagnosing. COVID-19 infection demand the need for imaging modalities such as chest HRCT to improve the diagnostic accuracy and assess the severity of the infection
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