Retrospective evaluation of chest computed tomography findings of the patients diagnosed with COVID-19

Abstract

Aim: In our study, we aimed to analyze laboratory findings, presentation symptoms and thoracic CT findings of patients who were admitted to the emergency department of our hospital with symptoms of COVID-19, had positive results of RT-PCR tests, and were referred to our radiology clinic. Material and Methods: Patients’ demographic data such as age and gender, symptoms on admission, PCR and CT outcomes were recorded and analyzed. In CT examinations, laterality, the presence of consolidation and/or ground-glass opacities (GGO), and central and/or peripheral distribution were analyzed. Results: A total of 74 patients aged 20-87 years who were found to be COVID-19 positive using RT-PCR test were included in our study. When examining the initial admission symptoms, patients were found to have complaints such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, weakness and sore throat. When the thorax CT findings of the patients included in the study were examined, bilateral and unilateral involvement, anterior and posterior localization, presence of apical involvement, peripheral and central distribution, multilobar and unilobar involvement, GGO, consolidation, vascular thickening, crazy paving, fibroatelectasis, subpleural band, air bronchogram, pleural effusion, pleural thickening, cavitation and mediastinal LAP findings were detected. Discussion: It is still premature to use CT alone instead of RT-PCR. However, the findings accumulated in the literature show that a trend has begun to develop in this regard. A definitive diagnosis must be confirmed by CT scan in patients who show typical symptoms of COVID-19, even though the PCR test is negative, especially in adults.