The Clinical and Computed Tomography Findings of Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the demographic, clinical data and, computed tomography findings of patients diagnosed COVID-19. Methods: Patients who had COVID 19 suspicion in the emergency department of the university hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, between March 20, 2020, and April 1, 2020, were scanned. Demographic, characteristics, and computed tomography findings of patients with positive RT-PCR test results were analyzed. Results: The mean age of patients was 51.27 (6.45) years, and 72.5% were male. The median admission period of patients was 4 (1 - 10) days, and the mean length of hospital stay was 10.49 (6.6) days. The mean CT result time was 33.24 (11.56) minutes. and RT-PCR was 35.53 (14.36) hours. The most common complaint was a fever. Furthermore, shortness of breath and dry cough was other evident complaints. Only 7.8% of patients were asymptomatic. In 84.3% and 80.5% of patients had increased C-reactive protein levels and increased ferritin levels, while in 41.2% of patients had decreased lymphocyte count. Bilateral lung involvement, multifocal localized lung lesions, peripheral and central distribution of lesions were detected in most patients. Lesions were located at the posterior lung in more than half of the patients. The rate of involvement of the lower lobes was higher. Some 84.5% of the patients had two or more lobe involvements. Ground glass density (94.1%), consolidation (80.4%), pleural thickening (64.7%), crazy paving pattern (52.9%), vascular enlargement (47.1%), halo sign (43.1%), and air bronchogram (33.3%) were the most seen lesions. Conclusion: Computed tomography could be helpful in coordination with the clinical and laboratory parameters for early decision and isolation of patients with suspected COVID-19 until RT-PCR test results obtained.