CT findings and clinical features of corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) in 50 RT-PCR confirmed patients: an Indian study

Objective: To characterize the clinical features, laboratory and
CT findings of 50 RT-PCR proven patients with COVID19.
Materials and methods: A retrospective study of 50 pa- tients with RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 was performed. CT images were reviewed by two experienced radiologists. Clinical data was also recorded. The percentage of each CT findings was evaluated. Patients were divided into early and advanced phase depending on symptom onset which is less than or equal to 7 days and 7 to 14 days. Chi-square test was used to compare the CT features of early and advanced phase of COVID-19 pneumonitis.
Results: There were totally 50 patients included in the study and among them 33 patients were male and 17 were female. The age group ranged from 22 to 87 years with median age of 48 years. There were 26 patients who underwent CT in ear- ly stage and 24 patients in advanced stage. Most of the pa- tients presented with fever and cough with lymphocytopenia and elevated CRP being the most common lab finding. The most common finding in CT scan was ground glass opacities which was seen in 41(82%) patients. GGO with consolida- tion was seen in 20(40%) patients and GGO with interstitial thickening or crazy paving was seen in 10(20%) patients. Air bubble sign was seen in 2 (4%) patients. Vascular dilatation was seen in 9(18%) patients. Subpleural fibrotic bands, archi- tectural distortion were seen in 8(16%) patients. Subpleural line and halo sign was seen in 2(4%) patients. Nodules were seen in 1 (2%) patient. Air bronchogram within the consoli- dation was seen in 8(16%) patients. Bronchial dilatation and distortion was seen in 4 (8%) patients. Pleural thickening (18%) was common than pleural effusion (8%). Mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pericardial effusion were seen in 4% cases. In the early phase, GGO were more common and was seen in all 26 patients in early phase. Consolidation, air bron- chogram, bronchial abnormalities and pleural effusion were more common in the advanced phases and was statistically significant. Rest of the other parameters did not show any
statistical significance. The sensitivity of CT in diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia was 96.15% in early phase and 83.33% in advanced phase and 90% overall.
Conclusion: Fever and cough were the most common clinical finding. Elevated CRP and lymphocytopenia were the most common lab finding. Multifocal GGO with peripheral, poste- rior, lower lobe and bilateral involvement was the most com- mon imaging finding. CT can stage the disease as GGO was common in early phase and consolidation in later phases. CT is indicated in patients with moderate to severe symptoms and in RT-PCR negative cases with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.

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