Computerized Tomography Scan Findings in Pediatric Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to ascertain the computerized tomography findings of 56 children diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at Ali Ibn Abitalib Hospital in Zahedan, Iran. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 56 pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who were treated at Ali Ibn Abitalib Hospital in Zahedan from March to August 2020. The computerized tomography (CT) scans were performed for these children because they did not show signs of improvement, had decreased oxygen levels during the treatment, had severe respiratory symptoms, or had a breathing disorder. The CT findings were reviewed to determine the frequency of normal and abnormal scans. The distribution of lesions (unilateral, bilateral, peripheral, central), type of opacity (consolidation, ground glass, etc.), and presence or absence of bronchiectasis, effusion, cavity, and lymphadenopathy were recorded. The frequency of each type of lesion was then calculated. Results: Of the patients, 30.36% had a normal CT scan. The most common CT scan finding was ground-glass opacity (42.86%), followed by consolidation (35.71%). The distribution of lesions was mostly bilateral (64.10%) and mainly peripheral (66.67%). Conclusions: One-third of children with COVID-19 had normal CT features. Ground-glass opacity and consolidation were more common than cavity or pneumatocele, pleural effusion, bronchiectasis, and lymphadenopathy.