CT Chest Criteria of COVID-19 Infection: Cross Sectional Study

Abstract Background: COVID-19 infection is pandemic with in-crease mortality and morbidity all over the world, nature of the virus, induced lung changes, and its complications not fully understood. Purpose of the study to assess different CT criteria of suspected COVID-19 patients and its correlation with PCR results. Aim of Study: Was to recognize different changes of lung parenchyma by CT in suspected COVID-19 patients and correlating these results with PCR results. Patients and Methods: This study was done between May 2020 to June 2020, proved 26 negative and 52 positive RT-PCR test and their CT chest study was revised in Radiodiag-nosis Department, Presenting symptoms were fever, bone aches, fatigue, loss of smell and taste sensation, cough and anorexia, By laboratory tests, raised CRP and ESR, CBC leukopenia and lymphompenia are suggestive of infection. Results: 78 cases, 32 (41%) females and 46 (59%) males patients were studied, their ages ranged from 25 to 65 years (mean age 45±0.1y). Males' patients, PCR was done for all cases, 52 were positive and 26 were negative test, CT was revised to show presence of parenchymal lung abnormalities and correlated with PCR results. Bilateral peripheral lung distribution of the lesions was common. CT findings in PCR positive cases were: 35/52 had ground glass density (GGD), 22/52 consolidation, 24/52 reticular shadows, 8/52 crazy paving, 20/52 nodules and 8/52 bronchiectasis, 26 were negative PCR test showed 2/26 GGD, 1/26 consolidation, 7/26 reticular shadows, 0/26 crazy paving, 5/26 nodules and 4/26 bronchiectasis. Most sensitive CT finding was ground glass opacity, Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive predictive value, Negative predictive value, Accuracy were 67.31%, 92.31%, 94.59%, 58.54% and 75.64% with statistically sig-nificant p-value <0.001. Crazy paving appearance was the most specific finding that showed Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive predictive value, Negative predictive value, Accuracy 15.38%, 100%, 100%, 37.14%, 43.59% with statistically significant p-value <0.002. Conclusion: This study clarify the role of CT chest in COVID-19 infection by diagnosis of different CT findings and parenchymal abnormalities also CT findings correlated with PCR results, most of positive PCR test shows GGD.