tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Radiol Med
. 2022 Mar 5.
doi: 10.1007/s11547-022-01466-9. Online ahead of print.
CT evaluation of lung infiltrates in the two months preceding the Coronavirus disease 19 pandemic in Canton Ticino (Switzerland): were there suspicious cases before the official first case?
Stefania Rizzo[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Carola Catanese[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Carla Puligheddu[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Samantha Epistolio[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Giulia Ramelli[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Milo Frattini[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ricardo Pereira Mestre[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Navarajah Nadarajah[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ermidio Rezzonico[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Francesco Magoga[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Lisa Milan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Filippo Del Grande[SUP] 3 6 [/SUP], Luca Giovanella[SUP] 3 7 [/SUP], Luca Ceriani[SUP] 3 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Purpose: The main objective of this study was to assess the presence of pulmonary infiltrates with computed tomography (CT) appearance compatible with infection by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in Canton Ticino in the 2 months preceding the first official case. Secondary aims were to compare the classification of infiltrates in the same time frame in 2020 and 2019; to compare the number of chest CT scans in the same period; to search for pathological confirmation of the virus.
Materials and methods: Chest CT scans performed between January 1 and February 24 in 2019 and 2020 were collected and classified by COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS). Pathological presence of the virus was searched for when appropriate material was available.
Results: The final cohort included 881 patients. Among the CO-RADS 3 and 4 categories, 30 patients had pneumonitis of unknown etiology. Pathological specimens were available in six patients but they were negative for COVID-19.
Conclusion: Before the first official case of COVID-19 infection, in Canton Ticino there were about 30 cases of pneumonitis of uncertain origin, with CT appearance compatible with infection by COVID-19, but with no confirmation of the disease. The number of chest CT scans in the first two months of 2020 was > 12% compared to 2019.
Keywords: COVID-19; Canton Ticino; Computed tomography; Pandemic.
. 2022 Mar 5.
doi: 10.1007/s11547-022-01466-9. Online ahead of print.
CT evaluation of lung infiltrates in the two months preceding the Coronavirus disease 19 pandemic in Canton Ticino (Switzerland): were there suspicious cases before the official first case?
Stefania Rizzo[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Carola Catanese[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Carla Puligheddu[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Samantha Epistolio[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Giulia Ramelli[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Milo Frattini[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ricardo Pereira Mestre[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Navarajah Nadarajah[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ermidio Rezzonico[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Francesco Magoga[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Lisa Milan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Filippo Del Grande[SUP] 3 6 [/SUP], Luca Giovanella[SUP] 3 7 [/SUP], Luca Ceriani[SUP] 3 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35247133
- DOI: 10.1007/s11547-022-01466-9
Abstract
Purpose: The main objective of this study was to assess the presence of pulmonary infiltrates with computed tomography (CT) appearance compatible with infection by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in Canton Ticino in the 2 months preceding the first official case. Secondary aims were to compare the classification of infiltrates in the same time frame in 2020 and 2019; to compare the number of chest CT scans in the same period; to search for pathological confirmation of the virus.
Materials and methods: Chest CT scans performed between January 1 and February 24 in 2019 and 2020 were collected and classified by COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS). Pathological presence of the virus was searched for when appropriate material was available.
Results: The final cohort included 881 patients. Among the CO-RADS 3 and 4 categories, 30 patients had pneumonitis of unknown etiology. Pathological specimens were available in six patients but they were negative for COVID-19.
Conclusion: Before the first official case of COVID-19 infection, in Canton Ticino there were about 30 cases of pneumonitis of uncertain origin, with CT appearance compatible with infection by COVID-19, but with no confirmation of the disease. The number of chest CT scans in the first two months of 2020 was > 12% compared to 2019.
Keywords: COVID-19; Canton Ticino; Computed tomography; Pandemic.