Evaluation of the cross-sectional area and densities of the pectoralis muscles and diameters of the pulmonary artery and aorta in the axial plane in COVID-19 patients
Abstract
Purpose: This paper aimed to investigate and compare diameter of the pulmonary arteries, and aorta, cross sectional area and density of the pectoralis muscles before and after COVID-19.
Materials and Methods: The axial Computed Tomography (CT) images of the chest areas of 20 individuals (12 females and 8 males) aged between 18-69 years were used. Pulmonary artery diameter (PAD), right pulmonary artery diameter (PADR), left pulmonary artery diameter (PADL), Ascending aorta diameter (AAD), the ratio of PAD to AAD, pectoralis major and minor area (PMAM) and muscle density (PMDM) before and after COVID-19 were evaluated on both healthy and COVID-19 CT images belonging to the same individuals and taken in the same year.
Results: The mean age of 20 subjects participating in the study were 48.00±11.43 years, while the mean age of 12 females was 57.80±1.64 years, and the mean age of 8 males’s was measured as 44.00±10.08 years. Also, the pectoralis major and minor area, ascending aorta diameter, left pulmonary artery diameter and right pulmonary artery diameter were higher in post-COVID 19 than pre-COVID 19. Except for the pectoralis major and minor density and truncus pulmonalis diameter, other measurements showed a decrease in patients who had COVID-19, although not significant, compared to the period before COVID-19.
Conclusion: These findings have shown that how COVID-19 affects the pulmonary artery and ascending aorta and especially the pectoralis muscles and these findings may be a sign of a change caused by COVID-19.
Keywords
COVID-19, pectoralis major area, Pulmonary artery, Ascending Aorta
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