Imaging Patterns and Clinical Correlates of Covid-19 Pneumonia: A Cross-Sectional Study Using High-Resolution Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND: Unknown etiology pneumonia cases were discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. These cases are now referred to as coronavirus illness 2019, and the coronavirus is characterized as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is an important imaging modality that can help with COVID-19 patient diagnosis and care. OBJECTIVE: To assess the imaging patterns of lung involvement of COVID-19 pneumonia on HRCT in suspected COVID-19 patients in Northwest General Hospital and Research Center Peshawar. METHODOLOGY: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Radiology Department, Northwest General Hospital Research Center from 30th March 2020 to 30th June 2021. This study included 80 suspected Covid-19 patients. HRCT of these patients was performed on 16 slices Toshiba Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) scanner in the Radiology Department of Northwest General Hospital and Research Centre.0.5mm reconstructed images in lung window and 3mm images in the mediastinal window were viewed on the workstation in axial, coronal and sagittal planes. The data was processed using SPSS version 16.0 RESULTS: We included 80 suspected COVID-19 pneumonia patients who presented to our department with or without symptoms of chest infection or fever. They were considered for our study irrespective of age group and gender. We found that a great number of patients (41.2%) were symptomless, despite lung parenchymal involvement. Eight patterns of distribution in the lung were found on HRCT, amongst which involvement of both lower lobes was most prevalent (32.5%). Radiological patterns of the disease process included GGH (82.5%), consolidation (60%), both GGH and consolidation (52%), crazy paving pattern (65%), pulmonary nodules (37.5%), interlobular septal thickening (71.2%), pleural bands (32.5%), bronchial wall thickening (20%) and pleural effusion (12.5%) CONCLUSION: HRCT is an effective diagnostic modality in the early identification of COVID-19 pneumonia. The majority of patients had bibasal involvement followed by peripheral subpleural distribution. Amongst the findings, GGH was found to be the most frequent finding on HRCT KEYWORDS: COVID-19 pneumonia, High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: , Safdar A. HRCT a helpful solution in suspected COVID-19 pneumonia cases. Northwest J Med Sci 2024;3(1):25-29