COMMON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FINDINGS AND ASSOCIATION OF THEIR EXTENT TO THE DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF 47 COVID-19 PATIENTS IN NORTH MACEDONIA
Journal
Macedonian Journal of Anaesthesia
Date Issued
2021-03
Author(s)
Tochko, Aleksandra
Abstract
Introduction and Purpose: There was an unprecedentedly rapid and worldwide spread of the
coronavirus after the acknowledgement of several cases of unusual pneumonia that were defined
as coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. As of
March 12th, 2021, there are more than 119 million confirmed cases, 2.63 million deaths due to
the disease, and 67.1 million recovered. In the Republic of North Macedonia as of March 11th,
2021, we have 110.209 confirmed cases, 3.265 deaths and 96.570 recovered.
The purpose of this study was to perform a thorough evaluation of the CTs in COVID-19
patients with the focus on the type, extent and common distribution of the parenchymal findings,
as well as to make an assessment of the relationship between the extent of the parenchymal
findings and different demographic features of the patients by using a visual volumetric grading
of the parenchymal involvement and administering an appropriate CT score.
Material and Methods: CT radiological findings of 47 patients from North Macedonia, enrolled in the study, were analyzed and summarized, and all of whom had positive RT – PCR tests
for 2019 – nCoV. The CTs in all patients were performed with 1.25 mm and 5 mm slice thickness
on 16-slice Somatom Definition AS+ computed tomography (Siemens Healthineers, USA). The
main focus was put on identifying the lesions, evaluating their most common type, distribution
and scoring their extent in the lung parenchyma. While applying an appropriate CT score, we
made a correlation with the demographic characteristics, such as age, gender and body weight.
Results and Discussion: The most common CT finding in almost all 47 patients was the
ground glass opacities (GGO) diffusely scattered in both lungs with a dominant peripheral and
posterior distribution. We found that age and weight are significant risk factors for predicting
the severity and outcome of COVID-19 disease.
Conclusion: Chest CT is an important diagnostic and predictive tool in patients with
COVID-19. There should be a consensus in the definite diagnosis of COVID-19 based on clinical findings, positive nCov PCR tests and radiological findings. Demographic features can aid
in the prediction of severity and outcome of the disease.
coronavirus after the acknowledgement of several cases of unusual pneumonia that were defined
as coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. As of
March 12th, 2021, there are more than 119 million confirmed cases, 2.63 million deaths due to
the disease, and 67.1 million recovered. In the Republic of North Macedonia as of March 11th,
2021, we have 110.209 confirmed cases, 3.265 deaths and 96.570 recovered.
The purpose of this study was to perform a thorough evaluation of the CTs in COVID-19
patients with the focus on the type, extent and common distribution of the parenchymal findings,
as well as to make an assessment of the relationship between the extent of the parenchymal
findings and different demographic features of the patients by using a visual volumetric grading
of the parenchymal involvement and administering an appropriate CT score.
Material and Methods: CT radiological findings of 47 patients from North Macedonia, enrolled in the study, were analyzed and summarized, and all of whom had positive RT – PCR tests
for 2019 – nCoV. The CTs in all patients were performed with 1.25 mm and 5 mm slice thickness
on 16-slice Somatom Definition AS+ computed tomography (Siemens Healthineers, USA). The
main focus was put on identifying the lesions, evaluating their most common type, distribution
and scoring their extent in the lung parenchyma. While applying an appropriate CT score, we
made a correlation with the demographic characteristics, such as age, gender and body weight.
Results and Discussion: The most common CT finding in almost all 47 patients was the
ground glass opacities (GGO) diffusely scattered in both lungs with a dominant peripheral and
posterior distribution. We found that age and weight are significant risk factors for predicting
the severity and outcome of COVID-19 disease.
Conclusion: Chest CT is an important diagnostic and predictive tool in patients with
COVID-19. There should be a consensus in the definite diagnosis of COVID-19 based on clinical findings, positive nCov PCR tests and radiological findings. Demographic features can aid
in the prediction of severity and outcome of the disease.
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