DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA FROM COVID-19 BY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

The retrospective study was conducted on data collected from tertiary Care Hospitals from January 2020 to May 2021 to compare CT manifestations and clinical features of COVID-19 with CAP and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CT in patients with COVID-19 and CAP. The study included one hundred sixty patients with COVID-19 and 115 with CAP diagnosed during the same time. Clinical data and CT images of the participants were collected. Results showed that 134 (84.3%) patients in the COVID-19 group had ground glass opacities on CT scans. In the COVID-19 group, the typical early presentation was single or multiple small round lesions. 51 (31.8%) patients had small lesions, and 83 (51.8%) had large patches, areas of fusion, or density shadows with spots. In the CAP group, 69 (60%) patients had consolidation, and 45 (39.1%) had ground glass shadows. There was a significant difference in density between both groups (P <.001). Of observed imaging and clinical manifestations, ground glass shadows, number of leukocytes, and age factor are clinically significant in diagnosing COVID-19. In the CAP group, major characteristics were the thickening of the bronchial wall, accumulation of textures and fibrous cords, and consolidated lung lesions. In COVID-19, common imaging manifestations of GGO and consolidation. Clinically, a CT scan should be used along with history and examination for early and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19.