The comparison of chest CT and RT-PCR during the diagnosis of COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: Our aim in this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of chest computed tomography and Real-time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction in a population with suspected Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) presenting at the emergency department. Material and methods: The study included 257 patients presented to the emergency department with suspected COVID-19. We included all symptomatic patients who received a chest computed tomography and at least one Polymerase Chain Reaction test for detection of COVID-19. The detection rate of COVID-19 infection based on the initial chest computed tomography and Real-time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction was compared. Results: A total of 257 patients, 130 women and 127 men, were included in the study.  The average age of all patients was 41,12±15,77. Sensitivity of Real-time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction test was 71% while that of computed tomography was found to be 49%. The ground glass appearance and/or peripheral distribution findings in 126 patients can be said to be the representative of computed tomography findings for COVID-19. Conclusion: Chest computed tomography should not be used routinely as a screening or diagnostic tool for COVID-19, and additional risks that may arise due to computed tomography imaging should be considered.

Keywords

• coronavirus
• reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
• chest CT imaging