Incidental Findings Suggestive of COVID-19 in Asymptomatic Patients Undergoing Nuclear Medicine Procedures in a High-Prevalence Region.
J Nucl Med
; 61(5): 632-636, 2020 05.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-27152
ABSTRACT
Infection with the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may remain asymptomatic, leading to under-recognition of the related disease, coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID-19), and to incidental findings in nuclear imaging procedures performed for standard clinical indications. Here, we report about our local experience in a region with high COVID-19 prevalence and dynamically increasing infection rates. Methods:
Within the 8-d period of March 16-24, 2020, hybrid imaging studies of asymptomatic patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT or 131I SPECT/CT for standard oncologic indications at our institution in Brescia, Italy, were analyzed for findings suggestive of COVID-19. The presence, radiologic features, and metabolic activity of interstitial pneumonia were identified, correlated with the subsequent short-term clinical course, and described in a case series.Results:
Six of 65 patients (9%) who underwent PET/CT for various malignancies showed unexpected signs of interstitial pneumonia on CT and elevated regional 18F-FDG avidity. Additionally, 1 of 12 patients who received radioiodine for differentiated thyroid carcinoma also showed interstitial pneumonia on SPECT/CT. Five of 7 patients had subsequent proof of COVID-19 by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The remaining 2 patients were not tested immediately but underwent quarantine and careful monitoring.Conclusion:
Incidental findings suggestive of COVID-19 may not be infrequent in hybrid imaging of asymptomatic patients in regions with an expansive spread of SARS-CoV-2. Nuclear medicine services should prepare accordingly.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Lung Diseases, Interstitial
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Incidental Findings
/
Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
Type of study:
Case report
/
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
J Nucl Med
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Jnumed.120.246256
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