Role of HRCT Imaging in Diagnosis And Prognosis of Novel Corona (Covid-19) Pneumonia, Radiologists Experience in Dhaka Medical College Hospital Correlated with Rt-PCR.

Background: High resolution computed tomography scan can be used as a effective modality for corona virus disease 2019(COVID -19) being a useful alternative to RT-PCR specially in hospitalized and RT-PCR negative patients. Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of high resolution CT scan in diagnosis and prognosis of COVID 19 and to see the sensitivity specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value. We also aimed to compare HRCT findings with RT-PCR in COVID 19 patients to find out the severity, prognosis and staging of COVID-19 corona virus disease. Materials and Method: This cross sectional prospective observational study was carried out in department of Radiology and imaging, Dhaka Medical College Hospital Dhaka ,Bangladesh in collaboration with department of Virology and COVID unit, Dhaka Medical college Hospital , Bangladesh Observations and Results : Total 200 patients were evaluated with HRCT findings and correlated with RT-PCR as gold standard. . Sensitivity was about 96% for chest CT, specificity 66% , PPV 97% accuracy 90% and NPV 62%. Conclusion: HRCT scan of chest is a useful modality for COVID -19 patients for the purpose of diagnosis and response to treatment. It is an important indicator for future prognosis . HRCT can be an important alternative of RT-PCR in symptomatic patients when RT-PCR is negative where facilities are available . It is important for the radiologists and clinicians to be familiar with different manifestations on CT . It will help in management planning for these patients .