Utilization of flat-panel detector computed tomography for evaluation of COVID-19 pneumonia during...

This study aimed to evaluate the imaging findings of the chest flat panel detector computed tomography (FDCT) among coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) positive patients during urgent/emergent interventional neuroradiologic procedures.

Chest FDCT examinations were performed using a C-arm mounted FDCT within the interventional radiology (IR) suite if the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results were pending in patients with clinical findings suggestive of COVID-19. In those who already had positive RT-PCR results, FDCT was performed for acute evaluation only if an acute unexpected cardiopulmonary event occurred during the procedure. FDCT images were evaluated retrospectively by a thoracic radiologist based on Radiological Society of North America classification.

Eleven patients (four males, four females, one boy and two girls) with positive RT-PCR test results were included. Six presented for acute ischemic stroke treatment, three children had retinoblastomas, and two patients had hemorrhagic strokes. One (9.1%) patient had typical CT findings of COVID19, whereas 4 (36.4%) patients had indeterminate findings. Six (54.5%) patients had no findings suggestive of COVID-19. The most common parenchymal finding was atelectasis (eight patients), followed by consolidation (five patients), pleural effusion (two patient) and pulmonary mass lesion (one patient).

This study is the first in the literature utilizing C-arm FDCT for dedicated thoracic imaging at the IR suite. Ability to perform on-site chest CT without a need to transfer the patient to a regular CT scan may be helpful in both the management of acute pulmonary complications that occur during interventional procedures and pre-interventional assessment for pulmonary conditions like COVID-19 in the IR suite in emergent interventions.