Radiological Features of COVID-19 Patients in Hodeidah, Yemen

Background: The radiological techniques namely chest radiography (chest X-ray) and computerized tomography (CT) scan play a major role not only in the early detection and diagnosis, especially for false negative Real Time-Polymerase Reaction (RT-PCR) tests and in admission criteria, monitoring the clinical course and the disease severity.

Objective: The study aimed to describe the radiological features of chest X-ray and CT scan in coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) patients, Hodeidah, Yemen.

Methodology: A descriptive study (a case series) included 49 patients with COVID-19 , confirmed by RT-PCR who were admitted in isolation department of COVID-19, Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL Thawara Public Hospital Authority, Hodeidah, Yemen who underwent serial chest X-ray and CT scan, from 1st June to 31st December 2021. The cases reports of patients from 3 to 80 years old. Image features and their distribution were analyzed and the COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) for level of suspicion of COVID-19 infection was applied.

Results: The results showed that 21 /49 patients (42.86 %) of CO-RAD 4 and 28 /49 patients (57.14 %) of CO-RAD 5. The most patterns were 42/49 patients (85.71 %) of ground glass opacification (GGO), 40/49 patients (81.63%) of bilateral involvement , 41/49 patients (83.67 %) of multi-lobar involvement, 37/49 patients (75,51 %) of peripheral distribution , 15/49 patients (30.61 %) of consolidation pattern and 3/49 patients (6.12%) of crazy paving pattern. On the other hand , in the youngest patients less than 50 year,79 % had GGO, and 21 % had lung consolidations ,while in the patients over 50 year ,GGO were presented in 56 % and consolidations in 44 %. In addition, the lung involvement range of patients was from 40 to 95 % and the median was 60 %. The lung involvement was represented in the patients more than 50 year as 60 – 95 % while in the patients less than 50 years was represented as 40 – 55 %. The lung involvement of death patients was 85 to 95 % of non-chronic diseases and 60 to 70 % of comorbidity and coinfection.

Conclusion: The study concluded that different radiological patterns and features were reported in elderly patients with COVID-19 infection associated with risk factors (comorbidity and coinfection). The radiological techniques have good predictive values on severity and mortality. Also can support the clinicians staff in early detection, early triage, criteria admission, and effective management of COVID-19 infection.