CT chest – A rapid screening tool in COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Sir, The COVID‐19 pandemic has affected a significant proportion of the population worldwide. Symptoms and signs of chest infections are commonly reported; however, RT PCR is the primary diagnostic modality. In this context, we wish to report on some results from an advanced tertiary imaging centre in south India on the use of CT imaging of the chest in COVID suspected patients. From March 2020 to August 2020, Screening CT Chest was done for all patients undergoing elective surgeries, who were asymptomatic for Viral infection, people exposed to COVID positive patients before one week and all patients who had mild symptoms like cough, body ache, anosmia, loss of taste, mild fever (<100°F), who didn’t require admission. All these patients underwent HRCT and noncontract Spiral CT in the same sitting and the findings of Ground glass opacities, Septal thickening, crazy paving pattern and patchy consolidations or mixed patterns[1] were considered positive by CORADS.[2] The study included all CT screen positive patients who underwent RTPCR for COVID and the results were analysed. Chest CT images were evaluated by two radiologists on both mediastinal (width 350 HU, level 40 HU) and lung (width 1500 HU, level ‐500 HU) window settings defining the pulmonary lesions according to their location, density, shape, and margin.