High resolution chest computed tomography findings in patients with clinically suspected COVID-19 pneumonia in Uganda: a cross-sectional study

Background: The alarming spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shortage of RT-PCR kits in Uganda necessitating the use of high-resolution chest Computed Tomography to guide patient management and treatment. Main Objective: To describe the chest HRCT findings in patients with clinically suspected COVID-19 pneumonia and to compare its diagnostic accuracy to RT-PCR. . Methods: In this cross-sectional study, chest HRCT findings of 384 patients and available RT-PCR laboratory results were reviewed and recorded in the data collection form. Results: The commonest chest HRCT findings were bilateral ground glass opacities (78.2%). Out of the 31.7% patients that took the PCR test only 26.9% tested positive. 16 out of 17 patients who tested negative, were classified under CORADS 5. The sensitivity of chest HRCT was 90.4%, 95% CI (82.6-95.5), positive predictive value of 84.2%, 95% CI (75.6-90.7), and accuracy of 77.5%, 95% CI (71.5-87.1). Conclusions: HRCT was found superior to RT-PCR in diagnosing COVID-19. A patient with positive HRCT findings should be treated as COVID 19 when RT-PCR is inaccessible or results are negative. A patient with negative HRCT requires complimentary RT-PCR and possibly follow up CT scans if symptoms persist before treating for COVID 19.

The HRCT staging and pulmonary function tests abnormal analysis of early coal workers pneumoconiosis * / 重庆医学

Objective To explore the early coal pneumoconiosis patients with HRCT staging and pulmonary function abnormali-ties indicators ,provide an objective basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment early pneumoconiosis .Methods Strict control of the inclusion criteria :no smoking ,no pneumonia ,no tuberculosis ,no lung cancer and no lung surgery ,as a result ,total 33 early coal pneumoconiosis patients were chosen in the study .All of them were underwent paired CT obtained at full inspiratory position .High kv chest radiography ,and pulmonary function tests at the same day .Reference to the chest X-ray pneumoconiosis classification method as pneumoconiosis HRCT staging .Analyzed the correlation between early coal pneumoconiosis with HRCT staging and the parameters ,including Forced vital capacity (FVC) ,Forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1) ,FEV1/FVC ,Maximum midexpi-ratory flow(MMEF) ,Peak expiratory flow(PEF) ,FEF75 ,FEF50 ,FEF25 ,Total lung capacity(TLC) ,Residual volume(RV) ,Carbon monoxide diffusion capacity(DLco) ,KCO and so on .Results HRCT could be more accurately display the shape ,size and distribu-tion of coal pneumoconiosis small nodules .There were significant correlation with MMEF ,PEF ,FEF75 ,FEF50 and FEF25 in different HRCT staging .Conclusion HRCT can early detection and validation early coal workers pneumoconiosis .Early coal worker′s pneu-moconiosis small airway flow rate decline caused by inhalation coal dust .

Usefulness of Chest High-Resolution CT in Patients with Chronic Cough Below 2 Years of Age

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of chest high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) in patients with chronic coughs or persistent wheezing with normal chest X-ray finding. METHODS: We reviewed the charts, chest X-rays, and HRCT findings of patients with chronic coughs or persistent wheezing of less than 2 years of age. The records were sourced from the Department of Pediatrics, Inha University Hospital covering the period from July, 1999 to June, 2000. Chronic cough was defined as a cough which was prolonged for more than 3 weeks. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 24 patients(male 15 and female 9, mean age 4.7+/-3.8 months old). Among them, 16 patients showed normal findings(66.7%) and 8 patients showed abnormal (33.3%) in simple chest X-rays. Among 16 patients who had the normal chest X-rays, 13 patients showed abnormal chest HRCT findings(81.3%) such as air space consolidation of the dependent portion(62.5%), bronchiolitis obliterans(12.5%), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia(6.3%). CONCLUSION: We suggest that the chest HRCT is a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with chronic cough or persistent wheezing with normal chest X-ray, especially below 2 years of age.