Chest computed tomography images of early coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Aim: The aim of the study was to present the results and impact of the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 by telemedicine in public health in Paraguay. Methods: This is a descriptive, multi-centered, observational design feasibility study based on an AI tool for the rapid detection of COVID-19 in chest computed tomography (CT) images of patients with respiratory difficulties attending the country’s public hospitals. The patients’ digital CT images were transmitted to the AI diagnostic platform, and after a few minutes, radiologists and pneumologists specialized in COVID-19 downloaded the images for evaluation, confirmation of diagnosis, and comparison with the genetic diagnosis (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)). It was also determined the percentage of agreement between two similar AI systems applied in parallel to study the viability of using it as an alternative method of screening patients with COVID-19 through telemedicine. Results: Between March and August 2020, 911 rapid diagnostic tests were carried out on patients with respiratory disorders to rule out COVID-19 in 14 hospitals nationwide. The average age of patients was 50.7 years, 62.6% were male and 37.4% female. Most of the diagnosed respiratory conditions corresponded to the age group of 27–59 years (252 studies), the second most frequent corresponded to the group over 60 years, and the third to the group of 19–26 years. The most frequent findings of the radiologists/pneumologists were severe pneumonia, bilateral pneumonia with pleural effusion, bilateral pulmonary emphysema, diffuse ground glass opacity, hemidiaphragmatic paresis, calcified granuloma in the lower right lobe, bilateral pleural effusion, sequelae of tuberculosis, bilateral emphysema, and fibrotic changes, among others. Overall, an average of 86% agreement and 14% diagnostic discordance was determined between the two AI systems. The sensitivity of the AI system was 93% and the specificity 80% compared with RT-PCR. Conclusion: Paraguay has an AI-based telemedicine screening system for the rapid stratified detection of COVID-19 from chest CT images of patients with respiratory conditions. This application strengthens the integrated network of health services, rationalizing the use of specialized human resources, equipment, and inputs for laboratory diagnosis.

Download Full-text

Detection of COVID-19 Using EfficientNet-B3 CNN and Chest Computed Tomography Images

10.1007/978-981-16-2594-7_30 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 365-373

Author(s):

Sahar Alquzi ◽

Haikel Alhichri ◽

Yakoub Bazi

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Chest Computed Tomography ◽

Computed Tomography Images

Download Full-text

Preoperative chest computed tomography in emergency surgery during COVID-19 pandemic

Journal of Perioperative Practice ◽

10.1177/17504589211024405 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 175045892110244

Author(s):

Vasiliki Chatzaraki ◽

Rahel A Kubik-Huch ◽

Anna Potempa ◽

Andi Gashi ◽

Andrée Friedl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Emergency Surgery ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Preoperative Assessment ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Chest Computed Tomography ◽

Negative Results ◽

Computed Tomography Images ◽

Preoperative Chest

Background The COVID-19 pandemic challenges the recommendations for patients’ preoperative assessment for preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 transmission and COVID-19-associated postoperative complications and morbidities. Purpose To evaluate the contribution of chest computed tomography for preoperatively assessing patients who are not suspected of being infected with COVID-19 at the time of referral. Methods Candidates for emergency surgery screened via chest computed tomography from 8 to 27 April 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Computed tomography images were analysed for the presence of COVID-19-associated intrapulmonary changes. When applicable, laboratory and recorded clinical symptoms were extracted. Results Eighty-eight patients underwent preoperative chest computed tomography; 24% were rated as moderately suspicious and 11% as highly suspicious on computed tomography. Subsequent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for seven patients, all of whom tested negative for COVID-19. Seven patients showed COVID-19-associated clinical symptoms, and most were classified as being mildly to moderately severe as per the clinical classification grading system. Only one case was severe. Four cases underwent RT-PCR with negative results. Conclusion In a cohort without clinical suspicion of COVID-19 infection upon referral, preoperative computed tomography during the COVID-19 pandemic can yield a high suspicion of infection, even if the patient lacks clinical symptoms and is RT-PCR-negative. No recommendations can be made based on our results but contribute to the debate.

Download Full-text

Quantity and quality of antigravity muscles in patients undergoing living-donor lobar lung transplantation: 1-year longitudinal analysis using chest computed tomography images

ERJ Open Research ◽

10.1183/23120541.00205-2019 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 00205-2019

Author(s):

Yohei Oshima ◽

Susumu Sato ◽

Toyofumi F. Chen-Yoshikawa ◽

Yuji Yoshioka ◽

Nana Shimamura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Lung Transplantation ◽

Living Donor ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Erector Spinae ◽

Muscle Quality ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Chest Computed Tomography ◽

Computed Tomography Images

BackgroundSkeletal muscle dysfunction is a common feature in patients with severe lung diseases. Although lung transplantation aims to save these patients, the surgical procedure and disuse may cause additional deterioration and prolonged functional disability. We investigated the postoperative course of antigravity muscle condition in terms of quantity and quality using chest computed tomography.Methods35 consecutive patients were investigated for 12 months after living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT). The erector spinae muscles (ESMs), which are antigravity muscles, were evaluated, and the cross-sectional area (ESMCSA) and mean attenuation (ESMCT) were analysed to determine the quantity and quality of ESMs. Functional capacity was evaluated by the 6-min walk distance (6MWD). Age-matched living donors with lower lobectomy were evaluated as controls.ResultsRecipient and donor ESMCSA values temporarily decreased at 3 months and recovered by 12 months post-operatively. The ESMCSA of recipients, but not that of donors, surpassed baseline values by 12 months post-operatively. Increased ESMCSA (ratio to baseline ≥1) may occur at 12 months in patients with a high baseline ESMCT. Although the recipient ESMCT may continuously decrease for 12 months, the ESMCT is a major determinant, in addition to lung function, of the postoperative 6MWD at both 3 and 12 months.ConclusionThe quantity of ESMs may increase within 12 months after LDLLT in recipients with better muscle quality at baseline. The quality of ESMs is also important for physical performance; therefore, further approaches to prevent deterioration in muscle quality are required.

Download Full-text

Spontaneous pneumothorax and subpleural bullae in a patient with COVID-19: a 92-day observation

European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery ◽

10.1093/ejcts/ezaa305 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 858-860

Author(s):

Qianqian Fan ◽

Feng Pan ◽

Lian Yang

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Spontaneous Pneumothorax ◽

Sudden Increase ◽

Alveolar Pressure ◽

Chest Computed Tomography ◽

Computed Tomography Images

Abstract This report describes a patient with COVID-19 who developed spontaneous pneumothorax and subpleural bullae during the course of the infection. Consecutive chest computed tomography images indicated that COVID-19-associated pneumonia had damaged the subpleural alveoli and distal bronchus. Coughing might have induced a sudden increase in intra-alveolar pressure, leading to the rupture of the subpleural alveoli and distal bronchus and resulting in spontaneous pneumothorax and subpleural bullae. At the 92-day follow-up, the pneumothorax and subpleural bullae had completely resolved, which indicated that these complications had self-limiting features.

Download Full-text