Chest CT findings of COVID-19 Patients in Kerbala, Iraq

Early diagnosis of COVID -19 is the corner stone in the management of the disease to decrease viral spread, CT scan provide a suitable diagnostic tool in this field, high lightening the finding of chest CT in COVID-19 patients will help radiologists in early diagnosis. To describe the findings of a chest CT in a patient with COVID-19 infection, to specify these findings and to correlate its presence with the time of patient presentation for assessment of disease severity. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period from the 1st of March to May 14, 2020, at Al-Imam Al-Hussein Medical City in Kerbala-Iraq, started with 107 COVID-19 patients referred from the respiratory care unit for CT scan; we study the findings and correlate it statistically. A total 107 COVID-19 patients with a mean ± SD of 45.27 ± 20.33years. 77 (72%) were males, CT was done for only 99 patients. 8 patients have a contraindication for CT, 81(81.8%) of scans were positive, findings were ground-glass opacity (71.7%), consolidation (32.3%), tree in bud (7%) and others, a significant association was seen(Pvalue=0.002)between time of presentation and types of GGO. Conclusion: CT scan should be done for every patient with clinical suspicion of COVID-19 disease, appearance of GGO in CT scan is highly diagnostic of the disease, bilateral confluent GGO warning sever clinical condition.