CT Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pneumonia and Its Association with C-Reactive Protein, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and Gender.

BACKGROUND

This research intended to investigate the characteristics of COVID-19, accurately evaluate radiological findings, and compare it with laboratory evidence of coronavirus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of 120 consecutive cases with a mean age of 55.9 ± 15.82 years and laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia was performed. On admission, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels were tested. Computed tomography (CT) findings and scored pulmonary involvement were evaluated.

RESULTS

An elevated level of CRP and mildly raised ESR was seen in all patients. ESR showed a meaningful difference between both genders ( < 0.05). Ninety-four (78.3%) patients showed peripheral pulmonary lesions and 119 patients had ground-glass opacity (99.2%), 110 (92.4%) had consolidation, and 9 patients (7.5%) had linear opacities. Of 120 cases, 25 (20%) had bronchial changes, 25 (20%) had air bronchogram, 11 (9.2%) had bronchial distortion, and 2 had mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The CT scores in males and females were 17.41 ± 4.86 and 14.65 ± 4.96, respectively with a significant difference between both genders ( = 0.001). CT score difference was significant between both genders ( = 0.01). The largest lung lesion diameter in both sexes (male: 46.0725.75 and female: 57.9131.14) showed a meaningful difference. CRP ( = 0.10; < 0.05) and ESR ( = 0.15; < 0.05) were correlated with the CT scores.

CONCLUSION

the results indicated that the infection involved lung parenchyma and interstitium. CRP and ESR levels were correlated with lung lesions and showed positive performance in predicting severity and disease monitoring.