Abstract

Undoubtedly, the end of 2019 will be recorded as one of the most sinister times in the history of medicine, when an outbreak of fatal pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus. RT-PCR test may show false negativity due to various reasons. Studies have shown that chest CT has a high sensitivity for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine the computed tomography findings in the patients presenting with COVID-19 like symptoms, to study the biochemical and inflammatory marker profile of patients presenting with COVID-19 like symptoms and to establish correlation of all the above parameters and CT severity score. Methods: 100 cases who presented with COVID-19 like symptoms and were COVID-19 RT-PCR negative in a tertiary care center were included in the study. Patients have undergone various lab investigations like CRP; D-dimer; IL-6 and Serum Ferritin. HRCT were done for all the 100 patients. Results: In our study, highest number of patients belong to 51 to 60 years and 71 to 80 years age group i.e., 22 each. Majority of patients in our study are male i.e.,74% and females are 26%. The most common finding was ground glass opacities followed by consolidation on HRCT. There is statistically significant difference in mean value of various biochemical markers like CRP, S. ferritin, IL-6 and D-Dimer and CT severity score. We found that D-dimer is the best predictor for outcome of the patients followed by S. ferritin, CRP and HRCT thorax. Conclusion: Chest CT can serve as a superior screening tool to RT-PCR. Increase in severity of disease as evident by higher CT score leads to increase in value of various inflammatory and bio chemical markers.

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