ABSTRACT
Background: Pulmonary cavitation as a radiological finding in COVID-19 has been documented in case reports and small case series with a variety of etiologies deemed responsible. However, there is no large data addressing the issue. Hence, we present the data of forty-two COVID-19 patients at our institute, who were diagnosed and evaluated for cavitary lung lesions. Methodology: Records of consecutive COVID-19 patients, diagnosed and evaluated for cavitary lung lesions over a period of three months from April to June 2021, were reviewed retrospectively. Result(s): 42 patients were diagnosed with cavitary lung lesions during study duration, 19 (45%) during the course of admission and 23 (55%) on readmission. Majority of patients (n=36, 86%) were detected with cavitary lung lesion between 4th to 7th week from symptom onset, while only 6 patients (14%) were detected in 2nd and 3rd week. Mean duration between symptom onset and evidence of cavity on chest tomography was 18 and 32 days in the course and readmission group, respectively. Mucor species, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans among fungal organisms and Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae among bacterial organisms were predominantly associated with cavitary lesions. Conclusion(s): Cavitary lung lesions associated with COVID-19 are not uncommon and can be detected during the absorptive phase of disease itself or much later during readmission. We found that bacterial and fungal infections are commonly associated. Hence, prompt diagnosis and management should be initiated keeping these etiologies in mind to prevent further morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19.