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Published on: December 19, 2020
Computed tomography findings of COVID-19 in pediatric patients
Yeliz Dadalı1, Sercan Özkaçmaz2, Erdal Ünlü3
1Departments of Radiology, Ahi Evran University Faculty of Medicine, Kırşehir, Turkey.
Insights
This study analyzed thorax CT scans in children with COVID-19, finding that 36% showed lesions, primarily ground-glass opacities. These pediatric COVID-19 CT findings are generally less extensive than in adults.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pediatric Imaging
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) presents differently in pediatric populations compared to adults.
- Understanding the specific thoracic imaging features in children is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the characteristic thorax Computed Tomography (CT) findings in pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
- To compare these findings with those reported in adult COVID-19 patients in the literature.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of CT scans from 95 pediatric patients (1-18 years) diagnosed with COVID-19 via RT-PCR between March 2020 and January 2021.
- Analysis of CT scans for lesion distribution, localization, and specific patterns including ground-glass opacity, consolidation, and halo signs.
Main Results:
- 36% of pediatric patients exhibited COVID-19-associated CT lesions.
- Ground-glass opacity was the most frequent finding (82%), followed by consolidation (26%) and halo sign (26%).
- Lesions were more commonly unilateral (56%) and involved a single lobe (53%) in pediatric cases.
Conclusions:
- Thorax CT findings in pediatric COVID-19 are typically less extensive than in adults, reflecting milder symptoms.
- Knowledge of these specific CT findings is essential for accurate diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19 in children.
Background:
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the thorax Computed Tomography (CT) findings of pediatric patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and to discuss these findings in light of the results of adult patients from the literature.
Methods:
The CT scans of pediatric patients (1-18 years old) with a diagnosis of COVID-19 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in our hospital between March 2020 and January 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The scans were interpreted regarding the distribution and localization features, and involvement patterns including ground-glass opacity, consolidation, halo/reversed halo sign, interlobular septal thickening, air bronchograms and bronchiectasis. The frequencies of these findings in pediatric cases in our study were recorded.
Results:
A total of 95 patients with a mean age of 13±4.6 years were included in this study. Among them, 34 (36%) had lesions associated with COVID-19 on CT scans. Bilateral involvement was detected in 15 (44%) while unilateral in 19 (56%) patients. Eighteen (53%) patients had single lobe involvement. In 16 (47%) patients a solitary lesion was detected and in 18 (53%) multiple lesions were present. Ground-glass opacity appearance was observed in 28 (82%), consolidation in 9 (26%), and ground-glass opacity with consolidation in 8 (24%), halo sign in 9 (26%), reversed halo sign in 2 (6%), interlobular septal thickening (interstitial thickening) in 1 (3%) patients.
Conclusions:
As symptoms are relatively milder in children with COVID-19, CT findings are less extensive than in adults. It is essential to know the thorax CT findings that aid in the diagnosis and follow-up of the disease.
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