The value of HRCT chest in diagnosis of COVID 19 and its correlation with RT-PCR

Objective: Aim of the study is to correlate CT findings of pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 positive patients with clinical findings and to investigate the role of CT Score in predicting result of patients. Study Design: Single-centered retrospective analysis Place and Duration of Study: The study has been conducted from June to November, 2020. Research has been carried out in District Headquarter Teaching Hospital, Sargodha. Methodology: From June to November 2020, 138 COVID-19 patients who appeared positive for reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were registered for chest CT analysis and clinical examination. Based on the range of lobular involvement quantitative CT scores were considered. Data was correlated with clinical findings. Results: Among the patients 106(76.8%) were males and 32(23.18%) were females. Among 138 positive patients, 51(36.9%) cases were categorized as severe while 87(63.04%) were placed in mild group. Normal chest CT is shown by 89 (64.4%) patients while 49 (35.5%) patients show parenchymal abnormalities. Among the patients with abnormal CT findings bilateral 39/51 (76.5 %), multilobar (88.2 %) lung involvement with a predominant peripheral and posterior distribution is commonly observed. Ground glass opacity is the dominant abnormality which we observe in all 48 (97.9 %) cases. Pure Ground glass opacity is detected in 13 (27.08 %) and Ground glass opacity with mixed consolidation is noted in 17(35.4 %). Conclusion: Chest CT findings have potential role in predicting consequence of COVID-19 positive patients. It can be beneficial for speeding up diagnostic workflow as CT findings are correlated with disease severity and clinical findings.