Normal chest ct prevalence in coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) patients: A report of 791 cases

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to better understand the role of chest CT as an initial workup tool among all COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data of patients that were suspected for COVID-19 All patients who had both noncontrast chest CT scan with RT-PCR test results included in the study Symptomatic patients were divided into four groups according to time between the onset of symptoms and chest CT;4 days, 5-8 days, 9-13 days, and 14 days Chest CT findings according to symptom status, duration, and RT-PCR positivity were evaluated Results: Data for a total of 791 patients were evaluated The mean patient age was 51 7 19 7 years 459 (58%) patients were male, and 332 (42%) were female 55 1% of patients had positive and 44 9% negative RT-PCR tests Typical, indeterminate, atypical and negative chest CT findings were seen in 241 (30 5%), 131 (16 6%), 154 (19 5%), and 265 (33 5%) patients, respectively Among 355 patients with negative RT-PCR results, 152 (42 8%) had typical or indeterminate chest CT findings Asymptomatic patients had a 91 9% of RT-PCR positivity Only 123 (61 5%) patients had typical or indeterminate CT findings among symptomatic and RT-PCR positive cohort Conclusion: The greatest value of our study is in demonstrating the value of chest CT in both patients that had symptoms but had negative RT-PCR test results and insignificance of chest CT in asymptomatic but had suspected contact with COVID-19 patients