CT diagnostics and monitoring of the course of viral pneumonia caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the work of the “COVID-19 Hospital”, based on the Federal Specialized Medical Scientific Center

Purpose. The research goal comprises primary analysis of CT examinations results and their interpretation by comparing with the data already available in the literature.

Material and methods. During the period from April 17, 2020 to May 18, 2020, 830 chest CT scans were performed and results of 123 CDs with CT scans made by other institutions were interpreted. Follow-up examinations were carried out every 3–4 days or when clinical presentation changed. At the primary stage, we have analysed in a more detail way a group of 69 patients, who were diagnosed with CT-3 or CT-4 volume of lung damage at least once during hospitalization. The patients underwent PCR analysis three times during hospitalization. Among 69 patients, 34 patients had a positive PCR test at least once, the remaining 35 patients had a clinic, corresponding with this disease.

Results. At the initial examination, ground-glass opacity prevailed, as it was observed in 44 cases (64%), and lung tissue consolidation was observed in 25 cases (36%) in a group of 69 patients. When comparing the two groups, the average age of the patients with consolidation changes was statistically significantly lower than one of the group where ground-glass opacity prevailed – 51.7 and 59.4 years, respectively (p = 0.01) In the group of patients with pulmonary tissue consolidation, there were fewer concomitant diseases, fatal outcomes, positive PCR test results, a shorter hospitalization period, and fewer cases of tocilizumab administration were noted.
At the initial examination the average percentage of pulmonary parenchyma involvement in the group of patients with lung tissue consolidation was higher (63.3%; p = 0.04), follow-up examinations showed c statistically significantly lower average values of the increase in the percentage of involvement of the parenchyma, which acquired negative values after the third CT scan (8.3 after the 2nd CT and −5.2 after the 3rd CT versus 18.5 and 3 in the GGO glass group; p = 0.02 and 0.03, respectively). No visible differences in CT between the period from the onset of the disease and the predominant symptom in CT were revealed. Meanwhile, on the 5th day (the day of the check-up CT examination) the largest number of patients was determined in both groups.

Conclusion. An analysis of our experience during the first month of operation of Covid-19 Hospital is presented. According to our data, the appearance of consolidation at the initial CT examination is probably not related to the period, when the disease has been in progress, and may be associated with a more favorable course of the process.

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