Spectrum of HRCT Chest Findings in RT-PCR positive COVID-19 Patients at a Tertiary Care Center in Mid-Western Nepal: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a pulmonary infection called as coronavirus disease (COVID-19). High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest plays a crucial role in diagnosis, assessing the lung involvement with its severity in COVID-19. The objective of this study was to describe the pattern of HRCT chest findings in lab-proven, real- time RT-PCR-positive COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS), the then COVID-19 patient treatment site in Lumbini province, from February 2021 to October 2021 among 78 RT-PCR-positive COVID-19 patients based on HRCT chest findings. Data collection was done after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee of RAHS. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27.

Results: Among 78 RT-PCR-positive COVID-19 patients, 51 were male and 27 were female, with a mean age of 51.28±14.35 years. HRCT chest showed ground glass opacities (GGO) in 74 (94.87%), followed by atelectatic band in 24 (30.77%), interlobular septal thickening in 22 (28.21%), consolidation in 20 (25.64%), GGO and consolidation in 17 (21.79%), crazy-paving pattern in 11 (14.1%), and other chest findings in 5 (6.41%) patients.

Conclusion: The most common HRCT chest findings of COVID-19 were ground-glass opacities, while atelectatic band, interlobular septal thickening, consolidation, and crazy-paving pattern were other important findings. Thus, HRCT chest imaging is crucial for both diagnosing and assessing the severity of COVID-19 patients.