Retrospective Evaluation of Short Term Lung Findings at after COVID-19 Pneumonia with Computed Tomography

Abstract

The purpose of this study was evaluate the short term radiological findings after coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia with computed tomography (CT). Patients who were treated for COVID-19 pneumonia and underwent follow-up imaging between March 2019 and December 2021 were retrospectively analysed. Age, gender, underlying comorbidity, pneumonia severity, symptom onset-admission interval, hospitalization and length of stay in hospital were recorded. Chest CT was performed at admission and after 3 months from symptom onset. CT severity scoring was for each lung lobe in the range of 0-5 and scored between 0-25. Risk factors for persistent lung abnormalities were investigated by logistic regression analysis. A total of 62 patients (33 males, 29 females; mean age 55,2±13,2 years; range 31-80) were included in the study. Patients were divided into total resolution (27/62; %44) and residual (35/62; %56) groups. In the residual group, the most common findings on control CT were ground glass opacity (25/35; %71), followed by parenchymal band (24/35; %69). Reticular lesion (4/35; %11) and pleural thickening (14/35; %40) were only seen on control CT. Volume loss was seen on both initial (4/35; %11) and control CT (8/35; %23) (p=0,344). Older age (>50 years) (OR:23,447 p=0,03) was found to be independent risk factor for the development of residual lung findings. The risk of post-COVID persistent pulmonary abnormalities at short term is higher in older age (>50 years). Long-term follow-up can reveal how much of the persistent chest CT findings reflect true fibrosis.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Post-COVID lung changes
• Computed tomography

Covid-19 Pnömoni Sonrası Kısa Dönem Akciğer Bulgularının Bilgisayarlı Tomografi ile Değerlendirilmesi: Retrospektif Çalışma

Abstract

Bu çalışmada amacımız koronovirüs hastalığı-2019 (COVID-19) pnömoni sonrası kısa dönemde oluşan akciğer bulgularını bilgisayarlı tomografi (BT) ile değerlendirmektir. Mart 2019 – Aralık 2021 tarihleri arasında hastanemize başvuran, COVID-19 enfeksiyonu nedeniyle tedavi edilen ve kontrol görüntülemesi yapılan olgular retrospektif olarak incelendi. Hastaların yaş, cinsiyet, altta yatan komorbidite, pnömoni şiddeti, semptom başlangıç zamanı, hastane yatışı ve yatış süresi bilgileri kaydedildi. Hastaların tanı anında ve ortalama 3 ay sonra çekilen toraks BT görüntüleri değerlendirildi. BT şiddet skorlaması her bir akciğer lobuna 0-5 aralığında puan verilerek 0-25 arasında puanlandı. Tek değişkenli ve çok değişkenli logistic regresiyon analizi ile akciğerde persisten anormallik oluşumu için risk faktörleri araştırıldı. Toplamda 62 hasta (33 erkek, 29 kadın; ortalama yaş 55,2±13,2; yaş aralığı 31-80) çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hastalar total rezolüsyon (27/62; %44) ve rezidü (35/62; %56) grubu olarak ikiye ayrıldı. Rezidü grubunda kontrol BT’de en sık görülen bulgular buzlu cam opasitesi (25/35; %71) ardından parankimal bant (24/35; %69) idi. Retikülasyon (4/35; %11) ve plevral kalınlaşma (14/35; %40) sadece kontrol BT’de görülen bulgulardı. Volüm kaybı hem tanı BT’de (4/35; %11) hem de kontrol BT’de (8/35; %23) görüldü (p=0,344). İleri yaşın (>50 yaş) (OR:23,447 p=0,03) rezidüel akciğer bulgularının oluşmasında bağımsız risk faktörü olduğu saptandı. Post-COVID 3. Ayda kısa dönemde toraks BT’de persistan anormallik oluşma riski ileri yaşta (>50 yaş) yüksektir. Persistan toraks BT bulgularının ne kadarının gerçek fibrozisi yansıttığı uzun dönem takip sonucu ortaya konabilir.

Keywords

• : COVID-19
• Post-COVID akciğer değişiklikleri
• Bilgisayarlı tomografi

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