Abstract
BackgroundHigh-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest becomes a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying patients infected with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the early stage, where patients may be asymptomatic or with non-specific pulmonary symptoms. An early diagnosis of COVID-19 is of utmost importance, so that patients can be isolated and treated in time, eventually preventing spread of the disease, improving the prognosis and reducing the mortality. In this paper, we have highlighted our radiological experience of dealing with the pandemic crisis of 2020 through the study of HRCT thorax, lung ultrasonography, chest X-rays and artificial intelligence (AI).ResultsResults of CT thorax analysis have been given in detail. We had also compared CT severity score (CTSS) with clinical and laboratory parameters. Correlation of CTSS with SpO2 values and comorbidities was also studied. We also analysed manual CTSS with the CTSS scored calculated by the AI software.ConclusionsCTSS and use of COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CORADS) result in accuracy and uniform percolation of information among the clinicians. Bed-side X-rays and ultrasonography have played a role where the patients could not be shifted for CT scan. The possibility of predicting impending or progression of hypoxia was not possible when SpO2 mapping was correlated with the CTSS. AI was alternatively tried with available software (CT pneumonia analysis) which was not so appropriate considering the imaging patterns in the bulk of atypical category.
Highlights
High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest becomes a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying patients infected with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the early stage, where patients may be asymptomatic or with non-specific pulmonary symptoms
Because it has already been shown that high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest has excellent accuracy for early diagnosis, triage, proper patient management and follow-up, radiology has become a pioneer
Comparisons between observers for HRCT thorax analysis showed acceptable interobserver reliability (ICC 0.82, 95% CI 0.74–0.89)
Summary
High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest becomes a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying patients infected with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the early stage, where patients may be asymptomatic or with non-specific pulmonary symptoms. We have highlighted our radiological experience of dealing with the pandemic crisis of 2020 through the study of HRCT thorax, lung ultrasonography, chest X-rays and artificial intelligence (AI). A febrile lower respiratory infection of unknown aetiology was reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and was later discovered to be caused by a novel coronavirus, a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1]. Since it has spread fast over the world, infecting millions of people [2]. Because it has already been shown that high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest has excellent accuracy for early diagnosis, triage, proper patient management and follow-up, radiology has become a pioneer. Kumar Sen et al Egypt J Radiol Nucl Med (2021) 52:251 and the overhyped artificial intelligence in COVID patients, in addition to HRCT of thorax and X-rays
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