scholarly journals Chest CT as a Complement to RT-PCR to Confirm and Follow-up COVID-19 Patients

Medicinus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Aziza Ghanie Icksan ◽  
Muhammad Hafiz ◽  
Annisa Dian Harlivasari

<p><strong>Background : </strong>The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was recorded in March 2020. Limitation of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has put chest CT as an essential complementary tool in the diagnosis and follow up treatment for COVID-19. Literatures strongly suggested that High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) is essential in diagnosing typical symptoms of COVID-19 at the early phase of disease due to its superior sensitivity  (97%) compared to chest x-ray (CXR).</p><p>The two cases presented in this case study showed the crucial role of chest CT with HRCT to establish the working diagnosis and follow up COVID-19 patients as a complement to RT-PCR, currently deemed a gold standard.<strong></strong></p>

Author(s):  
Damiano Caruso ◽  
Francesco Pucciarelli ◽  
Marta Zerunian ◽  
Balaji Ganeshan ◽  
Domenico De Santis ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the potential role of texture-based radiomics analysis in differentiating Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pneumonia from pneumonia of other etiology on Chest CT. Materials and methods One hundred and twenty consecutive patients admitted to Emergency Department, from March 8, 2020, to April 25, 2020, with suspicious of COVID-19 that underwent Chest CT, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients presented CT findings indicative for interstitial pneumonia. Sixty patients with positive COVID-19 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 60 patients with negative COVID-19 RT-PCR were enrolled. CT texture analysis (CTTA) was manually performed using dedicated software by two radiologists in consensus and textural features on filtered and unfiltered images were extracted as follows: mean intensity, standard deviation (SD), entropy, mean of positive pixels (MPP), skewness, and kurtosis. Nonparametric Mann–Whitney test assessed CTTA ability to differentiate positive from negative COVID-19 patients. Diagnostic criteria were obtained from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Unfiltered CTTA showed lower values of mean intensity, MPP, and kurtosis in COVID-19 positive patients compared to negative patients (p = 0.041, 0.004, and 0.002, respectively). On filtered images, fine and medium texture scales were significant differentiators; fine texture scale being most significant where COVID-19 positive patients had lower SD (p = 0.004) and MPP (p = 0.004) compared to COVID-19 negative patients. A combination of the significant texture features could identify the patients with positive COVID-19 from negative COVID-19 with a sensitivity of 60% and specificity of 80% (p = 0.001). Conclusions Preliminary evaluation suggests potential role of CTTA in distinguishing COVID-19 pneumonia from other interstitial pneumonia on Chest CT.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. TPS7111-TPS7111
Author(s):  
Virginie Westeel ◽  
Fabrice Barlesi ◽  
Jean Domas ◽  
Philippe Girard ◽  
Pascal Foucher ◽  
...  

TPS7111 Background: There are no robust data published on the follow-up after surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Current international guidelines are informed by expert opinion. Most of them recommend regular follow-up with clinic visit and thoracic imaging, either chest X-ray of Chest CT-scan. The IFCT-0302 trial addresses the question whether a surveillance program with chest CT-scan and fiberoptic bronchoscopy can improve survival compared to a follow-up only based on physical examination and chest x-ray. There is no such trial ongoing over the world. Methods: The IFCT-0302 trial is a multicenter open-label controlled randomized phase III trial. The objective of the trial is to compare two follow-up programs after surgery for stage I-IIIa NSCLC. The primary endpoint is overall survival. Patients are randomly assigned to arm 1, minimal follow-up, including physical examination and chest x-ray; or arm 2, a follow-up consisting of physical examination and chest x-ray plus chest CT scan and fiberoptic bronchoscopy (optional for adenocarcinomas). In both arms, follow-up procedures are performed every 6 months during the first two postoperative years, and every year between the third and the fifth years. The main eligibility criteria include: completely resected stage I-IIIA (6th UICC TNM classification) or T4 (in case of nodules in the same lobe as the tumor) N0 M0 NSCLC, surgery within the previous 8 weeks. Patients who have received and/or who will receive pre/post-operative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are eligible. Statistical considerations: 1,744 patients is required. Accrual status: 1,568 patients from 119 French centers had been included. The end of accrual can be expected for September 2012. Ancillary study: Blood samples are collected in 1000 patients for genomic high density SNP micro-array analysis. This collection will contribute to the French genome wide association study (gwas) of lung cancer gene susceptibility, and the genetic factors predictive of survival and lung cancer recurrence will be analyzed.


Author(s):  
ferhat cuce ◽  
deniz dogan ◽  
ugur bozlar ◽  
mustafa tasar ◽  
ervin gjoni ◽  
...  

Purpose: We investigated whether Chest X-Ray (CXR) could replace CT modality in the diagnosis and during the treatment of young adult COVID-19 patients with mild dyspnea with no comorbid diseases. Materials and Method: This retrospective study involved an examination of the records of a total of 956 patients hospitalized between March 1 and May 15, 2020. The study included a total of 64 patients, aged 21–60 years with mild dyspnea with no comorbid diseases and with COVID-19 infection confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction, who underwent a CXR at admission and CT imaging within 24 hours. The first CXR and CT images at the time of admission were evaluated in terms of lesions and localization. The clinical-radiological course of the diseases with CXR were also statistically evaluated. Results: CT was normal in 18/64 (28.2%) patients, all of whom also had normal CXR. The rest of the patients 46/64 (71.8%) with an abnormal CT, the CXR was normal in 18/46 (39.1%) and abnormal in 28/46 (60.9%). The time between the onset of complaints and admission to the hospital in patients with abnormal and normal CXR was 3.5 ± 2.3 days and 2.1 ± 1.1, which was statistically significant (p = 0.004). The hospital stay duration of the patient with abnormal and normal CXR was 9.6 ± 3.5 and 9.5 ± 3.4 (p=0.928), respectively, and was not statistically significant. Conclusion: CXR could be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of young adult COVID 19 patients with mild dyspnea no comorbid disease. In the case of early admission to the hospital, there is not a significant difference between using CXR or CT in the management of these patients. Therefore, the use of CXR in these patients groups will reduce the burden of CT units in pandemic conditions with limited resources.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Ameen Kamona ◽  
Fatma Al Lawati ◽  
Atheel Kamona ◽  
Nasser Al Busaidi ◽  
Yaqoob Al Mahrooqi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Pulmonary hyalinising granuloma (PHG) is a rare fibrosclerosing inflammatory lung condition of unknown aetiology. It is characterised by solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules that are usually found incidentally while imaging the chest for other reasons. We report two cases of histologically proven PHG diagnosed at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman. The first case was a 71-year-old male patient who presented in 2010 with a dry cough, weight loss and bilateral pulmonary nodules. The second case was a 58-year-old male patient who presented in 2012 and was found to have incidental bilateral pulmonary nodules on chest X-ray. Both patients were started on prednisolone and on follow-up the PHG nodules remained stable. Although there is no definitive treatment, PHG generally has an excellent prognosis.Keywords: Granuloma; X-Ray Computed Tomography; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules; Lung; Case Report; Oman.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Cellina ◽  
Marcello Orsi ◽  
Marta Panzeri ◽  
Giulia van der Byl ◽  
Giancarlo Oliva

Abstract AimTo assess the most common chest X-Ray findings and distribution in patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19; to verify the repeatability of a radiological severity score, based on visual quantitative assessment; to assess the evolution of chest X-Ray findings at follow-up; to evaluate chest X-Ray sensitivity.MethodsWe analysed chest X-Rays at baseline of 110 consecutive COVID-19 patients (79 males, 31 females; mean age: 64±16 years) with RT-PCR confirmation, who presented to our ED.Two radiologists evaluated the imaging findings and distribution.A severity score, based on the extension of lung abnormalities, was assigned by two other radiologists, independently, to the baseline and follow-up X-Rays, executed in 77/110 cases; interobserver agreement was calculated. Chest X-Ray sensitivity was assessed, with RT-PCR as gold standard.ResultsInterobserver agreement was excellent for baseline and follow-up X-Rays (Cohen's K=0.989, p<0.001, Cohen's K=0.985, p<0.001, respectively). The mean score at baseline was 2.87±1.7 for readers 1 and 2. We observed radiological worsening in 52/77 (67%) patients, with significantly higher scores at follow-up (mean score: 4.27±2.15 for reader 1 and 4.28±2.14 for reader 2, respectively); p<0.001.Ground glass opacities were the most common findings (97/110, 88%). Abnormalities showed bilateral involvement in 67/110 (61%), with prevalent peripheral distribution (48/110, 43.5%).The X-Ray sensitivity for the detection of COVID-19 infection was 91%.ConclusionChest X-Ray highlighted imaging findings in line with those previously reported for chest CT. The use of a radiological score can result in clearer communication with Clinicians and a more precise assessment of disease evolution.


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (226) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anamika Jha ◽  
Benu Lohani ◽  
Ram Kumar Ghimire

COVID-19 has rapidly emerged as a pandemic threatening lives and healthcare systems worldwide.With the emergence of the disease in Nepal, all faculties of medicine need to be well prepared toface the challenge. Fortunately, now plenty of research is available to facilitate our preparednessin the war against COVID-19. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction is the currentgold standard diagnostic test and chest Computed Tomography scan for screening the disease isconsidered inappropriate by most society recommendations. The Nepal Radiologists’ Associationhas proposed its guidelines which have been endorsed by the Nepal Medical Council. This articleaims to summarize the role of imaging focusing on chest X-ray and Computed Tomography scanincluding the indications, specific findings, and important differentials. Imaging needs to be donetaking necessary precautions, to minimize disease transmission, protect health care personnel, andpreserve health care system functioning.


2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Cai ◽  
Shali Chen ◽  
Terry Evans ◽  
M. George Cherian ◽  
Subrata Chakrabarti

In the present study, the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on alterations of hepatic and renal metallothionein (MT) and trace metals (Zn, Cu, and Fe) were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)- induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats, age- and sex-matched controls, as well as control and diabetic animals on a dualETA/ETBreceptor blocker, bosentan, were investigated after 6 months of follow-up. MT was measured by cadmium-heme assay. Metals were measured by atomic absorption spectrometer. ET-1 mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Hepatic and renal ET-1 mRNA was increased in diabetic rats as compared to control rats, along with an increase in both hepatic and renal MT proteins. The increased hepatic MT protein level was associated with decreases in hepatic Cu and Fe, whereas increased renal MT was associated with increases in renal Cu and Fe accumulation. Zn levels were unaltered in both organs in diabetic rats. Bosentan treatment partially prevented the increase in MT levels in both liver and kidney, along with reduced serum creatinine and increased urinary creatinine levels. Further bosentan treatment corrected the increased Cu and Fe levels in the kidney in diabetic rats, but reduced hepatic Cu and Fe levels. No significant effects of bosentan treatment on nondiabetic rats were observed. The data suggest that the possible effects of ET antagonism in diabetes may be mediated via changes in MT and trace metals.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liqa A Rousan ◽  
Eyhab Elobeid ◽  
Musaab Karrar ◽  
Yousef Khader

Abstract Background: Chest CT scan and chest x-rays show characteristic radiographic findings in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Chest x-ray can be used in diagnosis and follow up in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The study aims at describing the chest x-ray findings and temporal radiographic changes in COVID-19 patients.Methods: From March 15 to April 20, 2020 patients with positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for COVID-19 were retrospectively studied. Patients’ demographics, clinical characteristics, and chest x-ray findings were reported. Radiographic findings were correlated with the course of the illness and patients’ symptoms.Results: A total of 88 patients (50 (56.8%) females and 38 (43.2%) males) were admitted to the hospital with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia. Their age ranged from 3-80 years (35.2 ±18.2 years). 48/88 (45%) were symptomatic, only 13/88 (45.5%) showed abnormal chest x-ray findings. A total of 190 chest x-rays were obtained for the 88 patients with a total of 59/190 (31%) abnormal chest x-rays. The most common finding on chest x-rays was peripheral ground glass opacities (GGO) affecting the lower lobes. In the course of illness, the GGO progressed into consolidations peaking around 6-11 days (GGO 70%, consolidations 30%). The consolidations regressed into GGO towards the later phase of the illness at 12-17 days (GGO 80%, consolidations 10%). There was increase in the frequency of normal chest x-rays from 9% at days 6- 11 up to 33% after 18 days indicating a healing phase. The majority (12/13, 92.3%) of patients with abnormal chest x-rays were symptomatic (P=0.005).Conclusion: The chest x-ray findings were similar to those reported on chest CT scan in patients with COVID-19, Chest x-ray can be used in diagnosis and follow up in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.


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