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Usefulness of High-Resolution Computed Tomography in Early Diagnosis of Patients with Suspected COVID-19
Alma Angélica Ronzón-Ronzón1, Brenda Aida Acevedo Salinas1, José Agustín Mata Chapol2
1Radiology and Imaging Department, Hospital General de Zona #48, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México City, México.
Insights
High-resolution chest CT scans effectively identify patients with COVID-19, showing characteristic patterns early in the disease. This imaging technique demonstrates high sensitivity for diagnosing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Molecular testing is the primary method for diagnosing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- General population studies indicate that chest Computed Tomography (CT) can be a valuable diagnostic tool for COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of high-resolution chest CT in the early diagnosis of suspected COVID-19 cases.
- To determine the sensitivity and specificity of chest CT for diagnosing COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021, involving 160 patients suspected of having COVID-19.
- Data included clinical information, high-resolution chest CT imaging, and laboratory results.
- COVID-19 diagnosis was confirmed via positive RT-PCR or compatible clinical data with positive antibody testing.
Main Results:
- The study included 160 patients with a median age of 58 years.
- A significantly higher proportion of COVID-19 patients exhibited a ground-glass pattern on CT (65.1%) compared to non-COVID patients (0%; P = 0.005).
- Chest CT demonstrated a sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 42.8% for COVID-19 diagnosis. Only 3.0% of COVID-19 patients lacked CT alterations.
Conclusions:
- Chest CT is effective in identifying patients with COVID-19.
- Characteristic patterns observed on CT scans aid in the early diagnosis of COVID-19.
- High-resolution chest CT is a valuable tool for early COVID-19 detection.
Background:
Diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is mainly based on molecular testing. General population studies have shown that chest Computed Tomography (CT) can also be useful.
Objective:
The study aims to examine the usefulness of high-resolution chest CT for early diagnosis of patients with suspected COVID-19.
Design And Setting:
This is a cross-sectional study from May 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021, at the COVID Hospital, Mexico City.
Methods:
This study examined the clinical, high-resolution chest CT imaging, and laboratory data of 160 patients who were suspected to have COVID-19. Patients with positive Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing and those with negative RT-PCR testing but clinical data compatible with COVID-19 and positive antibody testing were considered to have COVID-19 (positive). Sensitivity and specificity of CT for diagnosis of COVID-19 were calculated. p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results:
Median age of 160 study patients was 58 years. The proportion of patients with groundglass pattern was significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 than in those without COVID (65.1% versus 0%; P = 0.005). COVID-19 was ruled out in sixteen (11.1%). Only four of the 132 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 (3.0%) did not show CT alterations (p < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity of CT for COVID-19 diagnosis were 96.7% and 42.8%, respectively.
Conclusions:
Chest CT can identify patients with COVID-19, as characteristic disease patterns are observed on CT in the early disease stage.
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