scholarly journals Radiological Features on HRCT and RT-PCR Testing for the Diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China: A Comparative Study of 78 Cases in Pregnant Women

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Deng ◽  
Wenbo Sun ◽  
Jinxiang Hu ◽  
Liejun Mei ◽  
Dinghu Weng ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundIn the past four months, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global health threat. In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, pneumonia is a critical disease that threatens the health of pregnant women and fetuses. We aimed to evaluate the quantitative parameters of CT scans performed on pregnant women with COVID-19 who had different reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results.MethodsPregnant women with suspected cases of COVID-19 pneumonia (confirmed by next-generation sequencing or RT-PCR) who underwent high-resolution lung CT scans were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were grouped based on the results of the RT-PCR and the first CT scan: group 1 (double positive patients; positive RT-PCR and CT scan) and group 2 (negative RT-PCR and positive CT scan). The imaging features and their distributions were extracted and compared between the two groups.ResultsSeventy-eight patients were admitted to the hospital between Dec 20, 2019, and Feb 29, 2020. The mean age of the patients was 31.82 years (SD 4.1, ranged from 21 to 46 years). The cohort included 14 (17.95%) patients with a positive RT-PCR test and 64 (82.05%) with a negative RT-PCR test, there were 37 (47.44%) patients with a positive CT scan, and 41 (52.56%) patients with a negative CT scan. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of CT-based diagnosis of COVID-19 were 85.71%, 60.94%, 32.40%, 95.12% and 65.38%, respectively. COVID-19 pneumonia mainly involved the right lower lobe of the lung. There were 53 semi-quantitative and 59 quantitative parameters, which were compared between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the quantitative parameters. However, the Hellinger distance was significantly different between the two groups, albeit with a limited diagnostic value (AUC = 0.63).ConclusionsPregnant women with pneumonia usually present with typical abnormal signs on CT. Although multidimensional CT quantitative parameters are somewhat different between groups of patients with different RT-PCR results, it is still impossible to accurately predict whether the RT-PCR will be positive, which would allow for the earlier detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Deng ◽  
Wenbo Sun ◽  
Jinxiang Hu ◽  
Liejun Mei ◽  
Dinghu Weng ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: We aimed to evaluate the quantitative parameters of CT scans performed on pregnant women with COVID-19 who had different reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results.Methods: Pregnant women with suspected cases of COVID-19 pneumonia (confirmed by next-generation sequencing or RT-PCR) who underwent high-resolution lung CT scans were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were grouped based on the results of the RT-PCR and the first CT scan: group 1 (double positive patients; positive RT-PCR and CT scan) and group 2 (negative RT-PCR and positive CT scan). The imaging features and their distributions were extracted and compared between the two groups.Results: Seventy-eight patients were admitted to the hospital between Dec 20, 2019, and Feb 29, 2020. The mean age of the patients was 31.82 years (SD 4.1, ranged from 21 to 46 years). The cohort included 14 (17.95%) patients with a positive RT-PCR test and 64 (82.05%) with a negative RT-PCR test, there were 37 (47.44%) patients with a positive CT scan, and 41 (52.56%) patients with a negative CT scan. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of CT-based diagnosis of COVID-19 were 85.71%, 60.94%, 32.40%, 95.12% and 65.38%, respectively. COVID-19 pneumonia mainly involved the right lower lobe of the lung. There were 53 semi-quantitative and 59 quantitative parameters, which were compared between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the quantitative parameters. However, the Hellinger distance was significantly different between the two groups, albeit with a limited diagnostic value (AUC=0.63).Conclusions: Pregnant women with pneumonia usually present with typical abnormal signs on CT. Although multidimensional CT quantitative parameters are somewhat different between groups of patients with different RT-PCR results, it is still impossible to accurately predict whether the RT-PCR will be positive, which would allow for the earlier detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikram rao Bollineni ◽  
Koenraad Hans Nieboer ◽  
Seema Döring ◽  
Nico Buls ◽  
Johan de Mey

Abstract Background To evaluate the clinical value of the chest CT scan compared to the reference standard real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in COVID-19 patients. Methods From March 29th to April 15th of 2020, a total of 240 patients with respiratory distress underwent both a low-dose chest CT scan and RT-PCR tests. The performance of chest CT in diagnosing COVID-19 was assessed with reference to the RT-PCR result. Two board-certified radiologists (mean 24 years of experience chest CT), blinded for the RT-PCR result, reviewed all scans and decided positive or negative chest CT findings by consensus. Results Out of 240 patients, 60% (144/240) had positive RT-PCR results and 89% (213/240) had a positive chest CT scans. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of chest CT in suggesting COVID-19 were 100% (95% CI: 97–100%, 144/240), 28% (95% CI: 19–38%, 27/240), 68% (95% CI: 65–70%) and 100%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of the chest CT suggesting COVID-19 was 71% (95% CI: 65–77%). Thirty-three patients with positive chest CT scan and negative RT-PCR test at baseline underwent repeat RT-PCR assay. In this subgroup, 21.2% (7/33) cases became RT-PCR positive. Conclusion Chest CT imaging has high sensitivity and high NPV for diagnosing COVID-19 and can be considered as an alternative primary screening tool for COVID-19 in epidemic areas. In addition, a negative RT-PCR test, but positive CT findings can still be suggestive of COVID-19 infection.


Author(s):  
Afshin Ostovar ◽  
Elham Ehsani-Chimeh ◽  
Zeinab Fakoorfard

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread around the world since the beginning of 2020. The definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 is the RT-PCR laboratory test. However, because of low sensitivity, the chest CT scan has become important for the rapid diagnosis and clinical decision-making. Objectives: This study aims to define CT scan’ diagnostic value in diagnosing COVID-19 in medical centers. Methods: This study is a rapid health technology assessment (HTA) and had two major phases. In phase 1, a rapid review was done for defining the sensitivity and specificity rate of CT. During this phase, studies related to the diagnostic and technical data on the use of CT in the diagnosis of COVID-19 were reviewed, and the sensitivity and specificity of CT in these studies were extracted. In phase 2, sequential testing was run to evaluate the diagnostic value of chest CT to diagnose COVID-19 according to two scenarios before and after adding RT-PCR test results. Results: CT scan has a high sensitivity for diagnosing cases of COVID-19. Due to its low specificity, relying on CT scans to diagnose COVID-19 alone in medical centers can lead to a significant proportion of false-positive cases. This study showed that if the probability of COVID-19 before the CT scan were about 50%, with a positive CT scan, this probability would be between 60 and 70% depending on the CT specificity. Conclusions: With the available evidence, the use of a CT scan alone is not sufficient for diagnosis. The RT-PCR test is also necessary to improve the diagnosis and continue the treatment and isolation of patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Khatami ◽  
Mohammad Saatchi ◽  
Seyed Saeed Tamehri Zadeh ◽  
Zahra Sadat Aghamir ◽  
Alireza Namazi Shabestari ◽  
...  

AbstractNowadays there is an ongoing acute respiratory outbreak caused by the novel highly contagious coronavirus (COVID-19). The diagnostic protocol is based on quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and chests CT scan, with uncertain accuracy. This meta-analysis study determines the diagnostic value of an initial chest CT scan in patients with COVID-19 infection in comparison with RT-PCR. Three main databases; PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and EMBASE were systematically searched for all published literature from January 1st, 2019, to the 21st May 2020 with the keywords "COVID19 virus", "2019 novel coronavirus", "Wuhan coronavirus", "2019-nCoV", "X-Ray Computed Tomography", "Polymerase Chain Reaction", "Reverse Transcriptase PCR", and "PCR Reverse Transcriptase". All relevant case-series, cross-sectional, and cohort studies were selected. Data extraction and analysis were performed using STATA v.14.0SE (College Station, TX, USA) and RevMan 5. Among 1022 articles, 60 studies were eligible for totalizing 5744 patients. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of chest CT scan compared to RT-PCR were 87% (95% CI 85–90%), 46% (95% CI 29–63%), 69% (95% CI 56–72%), and 89% (95% CI 82–96%), respectively. It is important to rely on the repeated RT-PCR three times to give 99% accuracy, especially in negative samples. Regarding the overall diagnostic sensitivity of 87% for chest CT, the RT-PCR testing is essential and should be repeated to escape misdiagnosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 2474-2476
Author(s):  
Maham Munir Awan ◽  
Afshan Noreen ◽  
Farah Kalsoom ◽  
Muhammad Tahir ◽  
Umaima Majeed ◽  
...  

Objective: To determine the accuracy of CT chest in diagnosis of COVID-19 taking RT-PCR-testing as gold standard. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 patients of suspicion of COVID-19 who were referred for CT Chest in Radiology Department of Nishtar Medical University Multan from June-2020 to May-2021 were included. In all patients, two RT-PCR test results were obtained with 7 days of admission in hospital. Presence of any of these positive was labelled as COVID-19 infection. CT chest was performed in all patients within 2 days of admission in hospital using 128 slices CT scan machine. The diagnosis of COVID-19 infection was made according to the recommendations by Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) protocol. Results: Mean age was 51.3±14.7 years. 78 (52%) patients were male and 72 (48%) patients were female. RTPCR test was positive in 89 (59.3%) patients. While the CT chest findings were suggestive of COVID-19 infection in 130 (86.7%) patients. The sensitivity of CT chest was 95.5%, specificity 26.2%, PPV wad 65.4% and NPV was 80.0%. Conclusion: CT chest has a very good sensitivity for detection of COVID-19, it can be used as a rapid diagnostic tool especially in areas of pandemic. However, the specificity of CT chest is low, that can limit its use in low COVID-19 affected areas. Keywords: COVID-19, Computed tomography, False Positive, True Positive, Positive Predictive Value, Negative Predictive Value.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 3552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda Cuñarro-López ◽  
Óscar Cano-Valderrama ◽  
Pilar Pintado-Recarte ◽  
Ignacio Cueto-Hernández ◽  
Blanca González-Garzón ◽  
...  

This study was designed to examine maternal-perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) according to the result of a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test and to investigate possible variables that could be useful for predicting a negative RT-PCR result. Participants of this retrospective cohort study were obstetrics patients with suspected COVID-19 who underwent an RT-PCR test in a tertiary hospital in Madrid, Spain. Maternal-perinatal features were analysed according to the results of this test. Clinical, radiological and analytical characteristics that could be associated with a negative result were also explored. In a final subgroup analysis, patients were included if they had pneumonia and a negative test result for the virus. Out of the 111 obstetric patients with suspected COVID-19 that were enrolled, 38.7% returned a negative result. In this RT-PCR-negative group, we recorded lower rates of pneumonia (21.4% vs. 45.6%, p = 0.009), severe or critical clinical features (4.7% vs. 11.8% and 0.0% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.02, respectively), lower lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (168 UI/L vs. 224.5 UI/L, p = 0.003), a greater need for maternal treatment (60.3% vs 24.4%, p < 0.001), a reduced need for oxygen therapy (2.4% vs 28.8%, p < 0.001) and a lower rate of intensive care unit admission (0.0% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.046) than the RT-PCR-positive group. While no differences were found in other variables, the monocyte count was higher (946.2/μL vs. 518.8/μL, p = 0.022) in this group. The predictive model for a negative test result included the monocyte count, LDH level and no need for oxygen therapy. This model was able to identify 73.5% of patients with a negative RT-PCR result. Only 11% of the patients with pneumonia testing negative for the virus had IgG antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The proportion of pregnant women with suspected COVID-19 and a negative RT-PCR result was nearly 39%. In these patients, the symptoms were mild and the systemic severity of the disease was lower. The monocyte count, LDH level and no need for oxygen therapy were the factors that were more related to a negative test result in this group. These variables could be used to guide the management of patients with suspected COVID-19, mainly while waiting for RT-PCR results or in settings where this test is not available.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doh Young Lee ◽  
Tack-Kyun Kwon ◽  
Myung-Whun Sung ◽  
Kwang Hyun Kim ◽  
J. Hun Hah

Objectives. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the value of high-resolution ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) scan for preoperative prediction of the extrathyroidal extension (ETE).Methods. We analyzed the medical records of 377 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with preoperative US and CT scan to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of characteristics imaging features (such as contact and disruption of thyroid capsule) for the presence of ETE in postoperative pathologic examination. We also evaluated the diagnostic power for several combinations of US and CT findings.Results. ETE was present in 174 (46.2%) based on pathologic reports. The frequency of ETE was greater in the patients with greater degrees of tumor contact and disruption of capsule, as revealed by both US and CT scans (positive predictive value of 72.2% and 81.8%, resp.). Considering positive predictive values and AUC of US and CT categories, separately or combined, a combination of US and CT findings was most accurate for predicting ETE (83.0%, 0.744).Conclusions. This study suggests that ETE can be predicted most accurately by a combination of categories based on the findings of US and CT scans.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nupur Nandi ◽  
Ritika Agarwal ◽  
Garima Bajpai

Abstract Background: The ongoing pandemic situation by a highly infective Covid-19 virus is a global health threat. Pregnancy related physiological changes of cardio- respiratory system and relative immunosuppression might cause more infectivity and worsening complications of this novel respiratory virus infection. Limited data availability on feto -maternal outcome of Covid 19 positive pregnant women necessitates the current study.Methodology: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a government designated level III Covid care hospital at Teerthankar Mahaveer Medical College & Research Centre to assess the feto-maternal outcome in Covid 19 RT- PCR test positive pregnant women delivered between April 2020 to September 2020. Mothers were evaluated in terms of asymptomatic status or predominant symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, and breathlessness), complication if any including need for ventilatory support for extensive pneumonia, or mortality. Neonates were tested for presence of infection by RT-PCR test on day 2 & 5 of delivery, and also looked for any symptoms of the disease or it’s complication.Results: Total 33 women with Covid19 positivity delivered at term pregnancy in the said period of 6 months. The most frequent (45.45%) age group was 26 to 30 years. Asymptomatic Covid 19 positive cases were more (57.58%) prevailing over symptomatic patients. Fever was most frequent (33.33%) physical symptom. Emotional quotient was significantly affected by presence of anxiety amongst 36.36%. Caesarean delivery conducted maintaining all protocol in 60.6% women, but all were indicated for other obstetric reason. None of the mother had developed significant pneumonia or other complication. One case of maternal mortality noted, but was not related to Covid 19 infection. Vertical transmission was nil in our study and no neonate was affected by any complication.Conclusion: Course of disease was not different in pregnant women infected by Covid 19 virus in late pregnancy in comparison to non-pregnant adults. No case of vertical transmission noted, neither any neonatal morbidity nor mortality in present study, shows the importance of following optimum protocol. All pregnant women should be screened for Covid 19 infection in current scenario.


Author(s):  
Saksha Dholakiya ◽  
Pooja S. Singh ◽  
Jaishree Bamniya ◽  
Haresh U. Doshi

Background: Pregnant women are likely to represent a high-risk population during current coronavirus 2019 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. The aim and objective of this study was to evaluate how COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mode of delivery and whether complications of the disease and mortality rate are higher in pregnant women than in non‐pregnant women.Methods: This ambispective observational study was conducted in department of obstetrics and gynaecology of our institute. Pregnant women diagnosed with positive for COVID-19 via the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test in the third trimester and all neonates with complete COVID-19 testing and delivery data. This data was analysed.Results: Out of total 66 cases studied, 48 patients (72.7%) were asymptomatic, while 13 (19.7%) had mild respiratory or gastro intestinal symptoms on initial assessment at admission, including cough, sore throat, fever, weakness or diarrhoea. Cesarean sections were performed in 57.6% of cases. There were no cases of maternal or neonatal mortality.Conclusions: The study revealed that COVID-19 positive pregnant women are usually asymptomatic or mild-moderately symptomatic, similar to COVID-19 positive non-pregnant women. There was a noted rise in the rate of caesarean sections as a mode of delivery. 


Author(s):  
Bushra A. A. Albazi ◽  
Dr Noof. Albaz ◽  
Dr Nayef. Alqahtani ◽  
Dr. Angham Salih ◽  
Dr Rafat Mohtasab

A large number of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present at hospitals. There are a limited number of isolation rooms open, and patients must often wait a long time to get a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test done. This necessitates the introduction of effective triage plans. A patient with suspicions is referred to an emergency room (ED) depending on their medical record for a simple physical assessment, blood test findings, and chest imaging.A retrospective study design was conduct at Prince Sultan Medical Military City (PSMMC). Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional board to wave the consent forms since it is a retrospective study. Only the primary investigator has had the data access to the patients’ medical records. The collected patient records were under specific categories, including symptoms score starts from 5 and above, RT-PCR test result done after CXRP imaging, the patient admitted to the emergency department (ED). Excluding all CXRP done after RT-PCR TEST, positive Covid 19 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), pediatric patients, and patients with score symptoms were less than five. Two experienced radiologists reviewed the images blindly, and the inter-observer reliability of observations noted by the radiologists was calculated. As for the relationship between the x-ray reading and the RT-PCR test result, our results showed a high correlation between the variables (chi-square χ² = 12.44, with df =1, and p<0.001). The sensitivity of x-ray diagnosing covid19 was 65.52 %, while the specificity was 54.51 %, and the accuracy of radiologists reading was 58.17 %. Furthermore, the positive predictive value (PPV) was 41.76 %, and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 76.05%. Finally, the false positive rate (type-i error (alpha) was 45.49%, and the false-negative rate (type-ii error (beta) was 34.48% Our research findings show that CXRP imaging can detect COVID-19 infection in symptomatic patients and can be a valuable addition to RT-PCR testing. In an inpatient ED environment where availability of test kits, laboratory equipment, and laboratory personnel is compromised and risks delaying patient treatment and hospital workflow, serial CXRP could theoretically be used as an adjunct diagnostic function and monitoring in patients suspected of having COVID-19.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document