Hematologic and Computed Tomography Features for Discriminating COVID-19 From Non-COVID-19 Pneumonia

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Clinical symptoms of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pulmonary infections often overlap, complicating diagnosis.
• Accurate differentiation is essential for appropriate patient management and treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate laboratory criteria and CT scan findings for distinguishing COVID-19 from non-COVID-19 pulmonary infections.
• To identify specific biomarkers and imaging features that aid in differential diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records from 200 patients (February 2020 - February 2021).
• Comparison of laboratory parameters (RBC, MCHC, HCT, ESR, NLR, PLR, MCV, MCH) and CT scan findings between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups.
• Evaluation of lesion distribution, opacity types, septal thickening, and pleural effusion on CT scans.

Main Results:

• COVID-19 group showed increased RBC, MCHC, HCT, ESR, NLR, and PLR compared to the non-COVID-19 group.
• Lower Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) and Mean Cell Hemoglobin (MCH) were observed in the COVID-19 group.
• CT scans revealed predominantly bilateral symptoms, peripheral and diffuse lesions, and septal thickening in the COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

• Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) is a significant laboratory indicator for differentiating COVID-19 from non-COVID-19 pulmonary infections.
• CT scan findings, particularly septal thickening, are valuable in distinguishing between these two groups.
• Combined evaluation of laboratory indices and CT features enhances diagnostic accuracy.