The mean severity score and its correlation with common computed tomography chest manifestations in Egyptian patients with COVID-2019 pneumonia

Mona A F Hafez

doi:10.1186/s43055-020-00368-y

Abstract

BackgroundComputed tomography (CT) is one of the main diagnostic tools for early detection and management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. This study aims to highlight the commonly encountered CT findings in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Egypt and the mean severity score and its correlation with the imaging findings. This study involved 200 patients with pathologically confirmed COVID-19 infection; non-contrast CT chest was performed for all cases; in addition, CT findings and severity score (CT-SS) were then assessed using descriptive analysis, and the correlation between the CT findings and disease severity was assessed.ResultsThe ground-glass densities and peripheral adhesions were the most typical CT findings. Prominent interlobular septations; bronchial thickening/dilatation; CT signs of crazy-paving, halo, and reversed halo; and reactive mediastinal lymphadenopathy were significantly correlated with disease severity. The mean CT-SS of Egyptian patients with COVID-19 pneumonia was 11.2 (mild to moderate severity).ConclusionMultislice CT played a vital role in the early identification of Egyptian patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The assessment of the CT severity score of COVID-19 is essential for the extent of pneumonia involvement to help clinicians achieve the purpose of early diagnosis and accurate treatment.

Highlights

Computed tomography (CT) is one of the main diagnostic tools for early detection and management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia
Patients with chest CT findings suspicious of Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pneumonia were included in the study (COVID-19 Reporting and Data System [CO-RADS] 4, 5, and 6)
Disease severity is significantly correlated with the 51–75 year age group (p = 0.033)

Summary

Introduction

Computed tomography (CT) is one of the main diagnostic tools for early detection and management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. This study aims to highlight the commonly encountered CT findings in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Egypt and the mean severity score and its correlation with the imaging findings. This study involved 200 patients with pathologically confirmed COVID-19 infection; non-contrast CT chest was performed for all cases; in addition, CT findings and severity score (CT-SS) were assessed using descriptive analysis, and the correlation between the CT findings and disease severity was assessed. During the current epidemic in Egypt, computed tomography (CT) is used as the main diagnostic tool for early detection and management of COVID-19 pneumonia. The typical chest CT findings in COVID-19 pneumonia are bilateral, peripheral, and basal predominant ground-glass opacities (GGOs) with or without consolidation and bronchovascular thickening [5]. Atypical chest CT findings include central upper lobe predominance, masses, nodules, cavitations, tree-in-bud sign, lymphadenopathy, and pleural effusion [6]

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