Publication:

Chest X-ray findings in COVID-19 patients: a descriptive study

Background Early suspicion and diagnosis remains the cornerstone for the better outcome of patients and to decrease cross infection in cases of COVID-19 pneumonia. In a country like Nepal X-ray facilities are readily available radiological tool in most of the centers and can be important screening tool.  There is a lack of studies detailing the chest XR (C-XR) findings in these patients when compared to that dedicated to the CT features. Study aims to describe the patterns of the lung opacities in CXR in these patients.

Methods This is retrospective descriptive study conducted at NMCTH in COVID-19 patients from 12 September to 17 October 2020. Demographic characteristics, symptoms, co-morbidities and C-XR findings were studied. CXR findings were categorized according to BSTI classification.

Results Among 111 COVID-19 RT-PCR positive cases admitted 102 (91.9%) belonged to age group 18-65 years, 89 (80.2%) were males. Cough and fever were the commonest symptoms present in 109 (98.2%) patients. Ischemic heart disease and hypertension in 32 (28.8%) patients were the commonest co morbidities. According to British society of thoracic imaging (BSTI) COVID-19 CXR classification, six patients (5.4%) had normal chest X-rays. Classic/probable COVID-19 picture was present in 79 (71.17%) patients while (7.2%) had intermediate for COVID-19 X-ray findings. Among 79 patients with classic/probable COVID-19 CXR findings 71 (89.8%) had bilateral consolidation/ground glass haze, 72 (91.1%) had peripheral lung involvement while 66 (83.5%) had middle and lower zone involvement.

Conclusions Ground glass opacities/consolidations with bilateral location, peripheral distribution and middle- lower zone predominance were the commonest X-ray findings in our study.