Scanning profile of patients with covid-19 infection: about 100 cases

Abstract

Introduction: Given the unpredictable evolution of covid-19, early detection is essential for the management and prevention of severe forms of this disease. Chest computed tomography (CT) is one of the main tools in the diagnostic approach.

Methods: we conducted a retrospective study of Covid-19 cases confirmed and hospitalized during the period between October, 2020 and December, 2020. All the patients had a CT chest exploration.

Results: One hundred patients were included in the study. The sex-ratio was 1.7 (63 men and 37 women). The mean age was 62 years. The viral pneumonia was classified moderate to severe in 63% of cases. The different radiological lesions were located in the sub pleural and lower regions in 70% of cases. The damage was unilateral in 25 patients, which is often associated with a mild form. Ninety eight percent of patients presented frosted glass images predominating in the lower lobes, the crazy paving aspect were present in only 39% with septa thickening in 22%. Ten patients had pulmonary fibrosis associated with an incidental discovery. Fifty three percent of patients had lesions of diffuse emphysema, which was correlated to tobacco intoxication. Only 25% of patients with severe pneumonia had extensive lesions on chest CT estimated more than 75%.

Measurements and Main Results: The place of the chest CT in the positive diagnosis of Covid-19 is indisputable. Radiological presentation is not always typical. The linkages between the severity of pneumonia and CT findings should be more studied.