High Resolution Computed Tomography Features of Third Wave of COVID-19 Pneumonia in Confirmed Cases

Abstract

COVID-19 which is caused by its new type called SARS-CoV-2 is a viral disease predominantly involving the lungs. Objective: To investigate HRCT features of pulmonary disease in COVID-19 in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: This is a prospective study that involved 127 COVID-19 positive patients (age 18 - 80 years, both genders) through non-probability sampling was conducted at the Radiology Department, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, in 2021. All patients with RT-PCR positive underwent HRCT chest. All findings in HRCT chest were assessed. Confirmed patients had positive HRCT. Excluded situations are low quality of images irrespective of its reason, HRCT indications other than COVID-19 pneumonia, and patients who do not want to participate in the study Results: Considering the exclusion and inclusion criteria, totally 127 COVID-19 confirmed patients ranging age from 18 to 80 years with a mean age of 52 ± 18 years, took part in this study. The most important and common HRCT finding was the multilobar ground-glass pattern which was present in 95% of patients. Other findings including, crazy paving pattern, consolidation, air bronchogram, and bronchiectasis were present in 8.7%, 82%, 63%, and 37% of patients respectively. Pleural effusion seen in 21% patients. 16% of patients had mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Conclusion: In our study, the ground-glass pattern was found to be the most common and important HRCT finding in patients confirmed with COVID-19 pneumonia. This important HRCT pattern is mostly found to be in posterobasal and peripheral subpleural locations. Other than ground-glass pattern, bronchiectasis, and consolidation having the air bronchogram were also reported commonly.