Radiological and laboratory findings of patients with COVID-19 infection at the time of admission.
Author(s)
Mirsadraee, Saeed
Pourabrollah Toutkaboni, Mihan
Bakhshayeshkaram, Mehrdad
Rezaei, Mitrasadat
Askari, Elham
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background & Objective: Diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be challenging, especially when the real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is not available or it is negative. In this study, we evaluated imaging and laboratory findings in a group of patients with a multidisciplinary diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: A total of 163 patients with a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to a specialised respiratory centre in Tehran, Iran were enrolled in this study. The distribution and characteristics of presenting radiological and laboratory findings were evaluated and the relationship to the outcome was investigated. Results: RT-PCR was positive in 92 patients. The diagnosis of COVID-19 in RT-PCR negative patients was made on clinical and radiological features (n=71) and 24 (14.7%) patients died of disease. The common computed tomography (CT) scan findings included ground-glass (94%) and consolidating opacification (12%), mainly in the lower lobes (90%). Peripheral and central lung changes were observed in 90% and 52% of patients, respectively. Lymphopenia, positive CRP, and raised LDH were present in 32%, 65%, and 96% of cases, respectively. A raised LDH of >500U/L was the best predictor of death in these patients (R2=0.6623; OR=24.4). Other markers of outcome included male gender, age (>50 years), lymphopenia, and severe CXR changes. Conclusion: Diagnosis of COVID-19 can be challenging, and a multidisciplinary approach is often needed. Whilst RT-PCR is still the standard diagnostic test, a negative test should be interpreted with caution. Blood tests and imaging can be useful in the diagnosis, monitoring, and risk assessment in patients with COVID-19.
Date Issued
2021
Date Acceptance
2020-08-20
Citation
Iranian Journal of Pathology, 2021, 16 (2), pp.137-143
ISSN
1735-5303
Publisher
Iranian Society of Pathology
Start Page
137
End Page
143
Journal / Book Title
Iranian Journal of Pathology
Volume
16
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2021. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution- 4.0 International License which permits Share, copy
and redistribution of the material in any medium or format or adapt, remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
and redistribution of the material in any medium or format or adapt, remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33936224
Subjects
COVID-19
CT scan
Chest X-ray
Laboratory findings
Radiology
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Iran
Date Publish Online
2020-10-21