Abstract:

Aim: The definitive diagnosis of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome corona-virus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2), is possible with the reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. At the beginning of the pandemic, since it may take time for the RT-PCR test to result, there has been difficulty in deciding whether to quarantine or treat suspected Bioekpatients. Chest computed tomography (CT) not being a screening method, has been widely applied for rapid filiation and treatment. In this study, the diagnostic value of CT for COVID-19 in the first peak of the pandemic was investigated. Material and Methods: All consecutive adult patients who underwent chest CT in the Radiology clinic with suspected COVID-19 between 16 March-April 30 2020 were retrospectively screened. All the images were evaluated in terms of the likelihood of COVID-19 suspicion according to the COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS). Pulmonary involvement findings, age, gender, and comorbid diseases of the patients were recorded. Results: Total of 504 patients consisted of 262 (52%) men, 242 (48%) women with mean age of 53.3±19.4 years-old were included. RT-PCR positivity was detected in 29/291 (9.96%) of CO-RADS 1; 4/65 (26%) of the CO-RADS 2; 15/63 (23.8%) of CO-RADS 3; 19/28 (67.9%) of the CO-RADS 4; 36/57 (63.2%) of the CO-RADS 5 patients. 356 patients were CO-RADS (1-3), 85 patients were CO-RADS (4,5). Accordingly sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, prevalence, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy rates, were 53.4%, 92.52%, 7.14, 0.5, 20.44%, 64.71%, 88.54% and 84.52% respectively. Conclusion: CO-RADS categorization improves the diagnostic value in COVID-19 pneumonia. Thorax CT has high specificity, positive and negative predictive value but low sensitivity for COVID-19 in. It is not suitable to use CT for diagnostic or screening purposes

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