Relationship Between Pulmonary Vascular Dilatation and Clinical Symptoms on Chest Computed Tomography in Patients with Confirmed COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Chest computed tomography (CT) is important in establishing a diagnosis, including detecting pulmonary vascular dilatation as a radiological feature of COVID-19, and consequently in providing comprehensive treatment. AIM: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between pulmonary vascular dilatation and clinical symptoms on chest CT in patients with confirmed COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective and cross-sectional study was conducted at the Radiology Department of Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital and Hasanuddin University Hospital, Makassar, Indonesia, from July to September 2021 in a total of 231 patients with confirmed COVID-19. The Chi-squared correlation test was used to analyze the data, with p < 0.05 considered significant. RESULT(S): Pulmonary vascular dilatation was observed in 31 (37.8%) of the 82 patients with confirmed COVID-19 with mild-to-moderate clinical symptoms and in 51 (69.8%) of the 73 patients with confirmed COVID-19 with severe-to-critical clinical symptoms. The incidence of pulmonary vascular dilatation increased in the patients with confirmed COVID-19 with severe-to-critical clinical symptoms. The chief complaints of most patients were cough, shortness of breath, and fever. In the patients with mild-to-moderate clinical symptoms, the most common chief complaint was cough (n = 53;64.63%), while in those with severe-to-critical clinical symptoms, the most common chief complaint was shortness of breath (n = 60;82.19%). CONCLUSION(S): Based on chest CT findings, pulmonary vascular dilatation is related to clinical symptoms in patients with confirmed COVID-19.Copyright © 2023 Sri Asriyani, Nikmatia Latief, Andi Alfian Zainuddin, Muzakkir Amir, Bachtiar Murtala, Hendra Toreh.

The Compatibility of Chest CT Scan with RT-PCR in Suspected COVID-19 Patients

BACKGROUND: Thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan plays a role in detecting and assessing the progression of COVID-19. It can evaluate the response to the therapy given. In diagnosis, the CT scan of the chest may complement the limitations of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Several recent studies have discussed the importance of CT scans in COVID-19 patients with false-negative RT-PCR results. The sensitivity of chest CT scan in the diagnosis of COVID-19 is reportedly around 98%. AIM: This study aimed to determine the compatibility of CT scan of the thorax with RT-PCR in suspected COVID-19 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was conducted in the Radiology Department of the Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital Makassar from April to December 2020 with 350 patients. The method used was a 2 x 2 table diagnostic test. RESULT(S): The study included 188 male patients (53.7%) and 162 female patients (46.2%). The most common age group was 46-65 years (35.4%). The most common types of lesions were ground-glass opacity (163 cases), consolidation (128 cases), and fibrosis (124 cases), mostly found in the inferior lobe with a predominantly peripheral or subpleural distribution. The sensitivity of the CT scan to the PCR examination was 86%, and the specificity was 91%. CONCLUSION(S): Thoracic CT scan was a good modality in establishing the diagnosis of COVID-19. CT scan of the chest with abnormalities could confirm the diagnosis in 88% of cases based on RT-PCR examination. It excluded the diagnosis in 91% based on the RT-PCR examination. The accuracy of the thoracic CT scan was 88% with RT-PCR as the reference value.Copyright © 2023 Sri Asriyani, Albert Alexander Alfonso, Mirna Muis, Andi Alfian Zainuddin, Irawaty Djaharuddin, Muhammad Ilyas.