CT Findings in Patients with COVID-19-Compatible Symptoms but Initially Negative qPCR Test.
Rofo
; 194(10): 1110-1118, 2022 10.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1839590
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
To assess whether it is possible to reliably detect patients with strong suspicion of COVID-19 despite initially negative quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction (qPCR) tests by means of computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
437 patients with suspected COVID-19 but initially negative qPCR and subsequent chest CT between March 13 and November 30, 2020 were included in this retrospective study. CT findings were compared to results of successive qPCR tests (minimum of 3 qPCR tests if CT suggested infection) to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of CT for diagnosing COVID-19.RESULTS:
COVID-19 was diagnosed correctly with a sensitivity of 100â% [95â% confidence interval (CI) 65-100] and a specificity of 88â% [95â% CI 84-90]. A PPV of 12â% [95â% CI 6-22] and an NPV of 100â% [95â% CI 99-100] were determined.CONCLUSION:
CT is able to detect COVID-19 before qPCR in initially negative patients in this special study setting. Similar CT findings in COVID-19 and other atypical pneumonias can lead to high numbers of false-positive patients, reducing the specificity of CT. KEY POINTS · Low-dose chest CT is able to diagnose COVID-19 in symptomatic patients even in cases of an initially negative quantitative PCR result and therefore is a fast support method to detect COVID-19, especially in early disease.. · Low-dose chest CT can reliably exclude COVID-19 in a pandemic setting.. · CT does not always ensure a reliable differentiation from other viral diseases.. CITATION FORMAT · Valentin B, Steuwe A, Wienemann T, etâal. CT Findings in Patients with COVID-19-Compatible Symptoms but Initially Negative qPCR Test. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2022; 194 1110â-â1118.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Rofo
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
A-1779-9230
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