scholarly journals Sensitivity and specificity of chest CT scan based on RT-PCR in COVID-19 diagnosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-77
Author(s):  
Alireza Mirahmadizadeh ◽  
Zahra Pourmontaseri ◽  
Sima Afrashteh ◽  
Mehrnaz Hosseinzadeh ◽  
Jalal Karimi ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 815-822
Author(s):  
Joanne Guerlain ◽  
Fabienne Haroun ◽  
Alexandra Voicu ◽  
Charles Honoré ◽  
Franck Griscelli ◽  
...  

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 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):  
Hamidreza Hatamabadi ◽  
Majid Shojaee ◽  
Mohammad Bagheri ◽  
Masoomeh Raoufi

Introduction: Lung US has been reported to be as useful as a chest CT scan and much better than a chest x-ray for the evaluation of pneumonia. Objective: This study aimed to compare the findings of lung ultrasound (US) and chest CT scan of patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: This retrospective observational pilot study was carried out on confirmed COVID-19 patients in the isolation corona ward of the Imam Hussein Hospital ED from March 15 to March 22, 2020. After obtaining demographic data, the patients underwent a pulmonary bedside US examination, with the patients in the sitting position, turning their back to the examiner. A 10-point lung US was performed. Each lung was divided into two areas: posterior (three zones) and lateral (two zones). The patients’ lung ultrasound and chest CT scan as the standard imaging were blindly reviewed and recorded. The clinical value of ultrasound was evaluated with different severity of lung involvement according to CT severity score. Results: Nineteen patients (38 zones), including 13 males, were evaluated with a mean age of 62.5±16.8 years. B2 lines and consolidation observed in the US examinations were significantly correlated with ground-glass opacity and consolidation observed in CT scan examinations, respectively (p <0.0001). US sensitivity and specificity of finding B2 lines were 90% and 100%, respectively. Also, the sensitivity and specificity of US in identifying consolidation were 82% and 100%, respectively. In the lungs with moderate and severe lobar involvement, US findings were significantly correlated (p <0.05) with CT scan findings. Conclusions: Ultrasound evaluation is a safe, fast, and rapid technique for the evaluation of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19-associated pneumonia. It is a reproducible procedure and can be implemented by the operator after a short course of training.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Olivier Taton ◽  
Emmanuelle Papleux ◽  
Benjamin Bondue ◽  
Christiane Knoop ◽  
Sébastien Van Laethem ◽  
...  

Background. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is currently not recommended in noncritically ill patients for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Indeed, the diagnosis is based on the RT-PCR test on a nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and abnormal findings on the chest CT scan. However, the sensitivity of the NPS and the specificity of the chest CT scan are low. Results of BAL in case of negative NPS testing are underreported, especially in the subgroup of immunocompromised patients. Objectives. The added value of BAL in the management of unstable, but noncritically ill patients, suspected of having SARS-CoV-2 infection despite one previous negative NPS and the side effects of the procedure for the patients and the health-care providers, were assessed during the epidemic peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Belgium. Methods. This multicentric study included all consecutive noncritically ill patients hospitalized with a clinical and radiological suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 infection but with a negative NPS. BAL was performed according to a predefined decisional algorithm based on their state of immunocompetence, the chest CT scan features, and their respiratory status. Results. Among the 55 patients included in the study, 14 patients were diagnosed with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Interestingly, there was a relationship between the cycle threshold of the RT-PCR and the interval of time between the symptom onset and the BAL procedure ( Pearso n ’ s   correlation   coefficient = 0.8 , p = 0.0004 ). Therapeutic management was changed in 33 patients because another infectious agent was identified in 23 patients or because an alternative diagnosis was made in 10 patients. In immunocompromised patients, the impact of BAL was even more marked (change in therapy for 13/17 patients). No significant adverse event was noted for patients or health-care staff. All health-care workers remained negative for SARS-CoV-2 NPS and serology at the end of the study. Conclusions. In this real-life study, BAL can be performed safely in selected noncritically ill patients suspected of SARS-CoV-2 infection, providing significant clinical benefits that outweigh the risks.


Author(s):  
Ramin Hamidi Farahani ◽  
Meysam Mosallaei ◽  
Ebrahim Hazrati ◽  
Naeim Ehtesham ◽  
Bahram Pakzad ◽  
...  

The article's abstract is not available.  


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

Abstract Introduction: Nowadays there is an ongoing acute respiratory outbreak causing by the novel highly contagious coronavirus (nCoV). There are two diagnostic protocol based on chest CT scan and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) which their diagnostic accuracy is under the debate. We designed this meta-analysis study to determine the diagnostic value of initial chest CT scan in patients with nCoV infection in comparison with RT- PCR.Search strategy and statistical analysis: Three main databases the PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and EMBASE was systematically searched for all published literatures from January 1st, 2019, to the 27th march 2020 with key grouping of “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 was done in Excel 2007 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, CA) and their analysis was performed using STATA v.14.0SE (College Station, TX, USA) and RevMan 5.Result: From first recruited 668 articles we end up to the final 47 studies, which comprised a total sample size of 4238 patients. In compare to RT-PCR, the overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of chest CT scan were 86% (95% CI: 83% -90%), 43 % (95% CI: 26% -60%), 67% (95% CI: 57% -78%), and 84% (95% CI: 74% -95%) respectively. However the RT-PCR should be repeated for three times in order to give the 99% accuracy especially in negative samples.Conclusion: According to the acceptable sensitivity of chest CT scan, it can be employed complement to RT-PCR to diagnosis patients who are clinically suspicious for nCoV.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Laure BRUN ◽  
Alexia GENCE-BRENEY ◽  
Julie TRICHEREAU ◽  
Marie-Christine BALLESTER ◽  
Marc VASSE ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To assess inter-reader agreements and diagnostic accuracy of chest CT to identify COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with intermediate clinical probability during an acute disease outbreak.Methods:From March 20 to April 8, consecutive patients with intermediate clinical probability of COVID-19 pneumonia underwent a chest CT scan. Two independent chest radiologists blinded to clinical information and RT-PCR results retrospectively reviewed and classified images on a 1-5 confidence level scale for COVID-19 pneumonia. Agreements between radiologists were assessed with kappa statistics. Diagnostic accuracy of chest CT compared to RT-PCR assay and patient outcomes was measured using receiver operating characteristics (ROC). Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for COVID-19 pneumonia were calculated.Results: 319 patients with a mean age of 62.3 yo were included. Inter-observer agreement for highly probable (kappa: 0.83 [p < .001]) and highly probable or probable (kappa: 0.82 [p < .001]) diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia was very good. RT-PCR tests performed in 307 patients were positive in 173 and negative in 134. Sixteen patients with negative RT-PCR tests and probable or highly probable CT patterns according to both radiologists were reclassified COVID-19 positive after clinical discussion. The areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.94 and 0.92 respectively. With a disease prevalence of 61.6%, PPV were 96.6 % and 94.4%, and NPV 84.3% and 78.2%.Conclusion :During acute COVID-19 outbreak, chest CT scan may be used for triage of patients with intermediate clinical probability with very good inter-observer agreements and diagnostic accuracy.


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 ◽  
Author(s):  
seied Asadollah Mousavi ◽  
Tahereh Rostami ◽  
Azadeh kiumarsi ◽  
soroush Rad ◽  
mohammadreza Rostami ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundCancer patients, with an incidence of more than 18 million new cases per year, may constitute a significant portion of the COVID-19 infected population. In the pandemic situation, these patients are considered highly vulnerable to infectious complications due to their immunocompromised state.Material & MethodsIn this retrospective case series, the documents of solid cancer patients infected by SARS-CoV-2, hospitalized in Shariati hospital (a tertiary care referral center designated for COVID-19 patients, affiliated by Tehran University of Medical Sciences) between 20 February and 20 April 2020, were evaluated. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on a positive real-time fluorescence reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids from nasal and/or pharyngeal specimens and/or features of chest CT scan highly suggestive for SARS-CoV-2.ResultsAmong 33 patients with solid cancer, 11 patients had a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and 22 patients had highly suggestive chest CT scan findings in favor of SARS-CoV-2 but negative RT-PCR . The mean age of the patients was 63.9 years, and 54.5% of the patients were males. Age and sex of the patients did not correlate with mortality. There was no difference in COVID-19 symptoms, lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia between survived and un-survived cancer patients. However, LDH level was significantly higher (7170±2077 vs. 932.3±324.7, P-value=0.016) and also serum albumin was significantly lower in un-survived group (3.6±0.5 vs. 2.9±0.6 p-value=0.03). Among 16 patients with stage IV cancer, thirteen patients died, which was significantly higher compared to stage I-III cancer patients (81.3% vs. 18.8% P-value= <0.001). In terms of developing complications, sepsis, invasive ventilation and mortality was significantly higher in patients who received cytotoxic chemotherapy within the last 14 days. There was no significant difference between the two groups of positive and negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR regarding their sex, age, cancer type, mean Hemoglobin concentration, Platelet count, lymphocyte count, serum albumin level, ESR and CRP titer or other laboratory findings and also in terms of clinical symptoms and coexisting.ConclusionIn this study, we showed that the mortality rate among cancer patients affected by COVID-19 was higher than general population and this rate has a significant correlation with factors such as the stage of the disease, the type of cancer, the activity of cancer and finally receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy within 14 days before diagnosis of COVID-19. We also showed that the outcome of cancer patients with positive RT-PCR for COVID-19 similar to those with negative RT-PCR with highly suggestive chest CT scan findings.


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