The relationship between thorax computed tomography findings and prognosis in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to demonstrate the relationship between thorax computed tomography (CT) findings at the time of admission and prognosis using a semiquantitative CT severity scoring system in patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who tested positive for reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 305 patients aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR and underwent thorax CT at the time of admission, were included in the study between March and July 2020. The demographic data of the patients, their presenting complaints at the time of admission, RT-PCR results, and thorax CT images were scanned retrospectively from electronic medical records. Lesions on thorax CT were evaluated for the presence of ground glass opacity, consolidation, and septal thickening and scoring. RESULTS: No significant relationship was found between mortality and CT score or other parameters. A significant relationship was found between admission to the intensive care unit and CT scoring (p=0.014), aortic diameter (p=0.032), chronic pulmonary disease (p=0.004), halo sign (p=0.031), mortality (p<0.001), fever (p=0.038), and dyspnea (p=0.031). A statistically significant difference was detected in the score parameter between discharged patients and intensive care unit patients who survived and those who died (p<0.001). In the parameter of the number of lobes, a statistically significant difference was found only between discharged patients and intensive care unit patients who survived (p=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Thorax CT is an advisor for early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis assessment of the disease. Semiquantitative CT severity scoring can provide valuable information about the prognosis of the patient.

Is pneumatization of middle turbinates compensatory or congenital?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of concha bullosa (CB) and the association between the degree of pneumatization and the severity of septum deviation in both paediatric and adult groups by CT evaluation and to investigate whether the pneumatization of middle turbinates is compensatory or congenital. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed digitally stored paranasal sinus CT images of 86 paediatric and 204 adult patients. The severity of the deviation and cross-sectional area of the pneumatized area of the CB were determined using tomography images. The septums were divided into three groups according to the severity of deviation. The cross-sectional area of the contralateral side divided by the cross-sectional area of the deviation was calculated and described as the interturbinate ratio. RESULTS: When bilateral CB was found, the pneumatization of the CB was more prominent on the contralateral side than on the deviation side in both the paediatric and the adult groups. However, we found that the interturbinate ratios were not statistically different between the paediatric and adult groups. Also, the interturbinate ratios were independent degrees of deviation in children and adults. The frequency of CB was low in the adult group compared with the paediatric group. CONCLUSION: Interturbinate ratios were not statistically different between paediatric and adult groups and were independent of the severity of deviation. These findings suggest that the pneumatization process is not compensatory.