Image Findings and Radiation Dose in Lung CT Scan of Patients With COVID-19 in Hamadan

Abstract

Background: Computed tomography (CT) scan plays an important role in the diagnosis of the COVID-19. Lung involvement appears in different forms on CT images. Absorbed dose to the patients may exceed diagnostic reference levels. This study aimed to investigate clinical symptoms, findings of lung CT scan, and absorbed dose to the patients. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in two CT scan centers in Hamadan: Besat and Sina. CT images of 163 patients with positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were interpreted by six experienced radiologists. Volume CT dose index (CTDIvol), dose length product (DLP), and effective dose were calculated in both centers and compared using the Mann-Whitney statistical test. Results: The most common findings in the CT images were ground-glass opacification (GGO), consolidation, and the combination of GGO and consolidation. CTDIvol, DLP, and effective dose to the patients were respectively 1.64±5.24 mGy, 177.12±59.03 mGy.cm, and 3.01±1.00 mSv in Sina hospital and 4.58±1.91 mGy, and 2.60±1.02 mSv in Besat hospital. The difference between quantities in the two centers was statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: The most common findings in lung CT images of patients with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were GGO and consolidation. Furthermore, there were differences in radiation dose to patients between hospitals, indicating the need for optimization.