A STUDY OF IMAGING FINDINGS ON HRCT THORAX IN CORONA VIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19)

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: In December 2019, a large outbreak of a novel coronavirus infection occurred in wuhan hubei province, china. The disease caused by the virus, named novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by the world health organization (WHO) can be spread through human to human contact. In human coronavirus can cause spectrum of diseases ranging from asymptomatic patient, simple cold cough to severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS). HRCT is very useful to see the extent of disease spread in lungs and to assess the severity of infection. It also helps in monitoring the response and therapeutic effectiveness and prognosis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1]To evaluate the various HRCT thorax Findings in RTPCR confirmed patients of covid-19 infection. 2] To correlate the findings of HRCT of thorax with patient’s clinical symptoms. METHODOLOGY: A retro- prospective clinical study was carried out on patients who were referred for HRCT thorax to the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Sheth L.G. general hospital having signs and symptoms of covid-19 and whose RT PCR report was awaited and who had undergone HRCT thorax and only patients who were RT PCR test positive within 72 hours were taken in the study. Total of 250 patients from May 2020 to January 2021, who confirmed covid-19 diagnosis with RT-PCR were taken. RESULTS In our study we found, the most common initial CT findings in COVID-19 pneumonia are bilateral, patchy or rounded ground-glass opacities that most frequently occur bilaterally and in the lung periphery with a subpleural basal predominance in left lower lobe. Most common finding were patchy bilateral ground glass opacity most commonly associated with inter and intralobular septal thickening giving crazy paving pattern. Consolidation was also seen with or without GGO suggesting infective etiology. CONCLUSION HRCT Thorax may be useful as a standard method for the rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 to optimize the management of severely ill PATIENTS.