CT findings and clinical features of corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) in 50 RT-PCR confirmed patients: an Indian study

Objective: To characterize the clinical features, laboratory and CT findings of 50 RT-PCR proven patients with COVID19 Materials and methods: A retrospective study of 50 patients with RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 was performed CT images were reviewed by two experienced radiologists Clinical data was also recorded he percentage of each CT findings was evaluated Patients were divided into early and advanced phase depending on symptom onset which is less than or equal to 7 days and 7 to 14 days Chi-square test was used to compare the CT features of early and advanced phase of COVID-19 pneumonitis Results: There were totally 50 patients included in the study and among them 33 patients were male and 17 were female The age group ranged from 22 to 87 years with median age of 48 years There were 26 patients who underwent CT in early stage and 24 patients in advanced stage Most of the patients presented with fever and cough with lymphocytopenia and elevated CRP being the most common lab finding The most common finding in CT scan was ground glass opacities which was seen in 41(82%) patients GGO with consolidation was seen in 20(40%) patients and GGO with interstitial thickening or crazy paving was seen in 10(20%) patients Air bubble sign was seen in 2 (4%) patients Vascular dilatation was seen in 9(18%) patients Subpleural fibrotic bands, architectural distortion were seen in 8(16%) patients Subpleural line and halo sign was seen in 2(4%) patients Nodules were seen in 1 (2%) patient Air bronchogram within the consolidation was seen in 8(16%) patients Bronchial dilatation and distortion was seen in 4 (8%) patients Pleural thickening (18%) was common than pleural effusion (8%) Mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pericardial effusion were seen in 4% cases In the early phase, GGO were more common and was seen in all 26 patients in early phase Consolidation, air bronchogram, bronchial abnormalities and pleural effusion were more common in the advanced phases and was statistically significant Rest of the other parameters did not show any statistical significance The sensitivity of CT in diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia was 96 15% in early phase and 83 33% in advanced phase and 90% overall Conclusion: Fever and cough were the most common clinical finding Elevated CRP and lymphocytopenia were the most common lab finding Multifocal GGO with peripheral, posterior, lower lobe and bilateral involvement was the mostcommon imaging finding CT can stage the disease as GGO was common in early phase and consolidation in later phases CT is indicated in patients with moderate to severe symptoms and in RT-PCR negative cases with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19