DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2021.v09i03.017

Pages: 256-260

Introduction: To optimize patient management, medical care and pandemic control, it is important to determine the effectiveness of chest CT scan to distinguish COVID-19 from other types of pneumonia. The objective of our work is to present the contribution of the chest CT scan in the diagnosis of Covid-19 viral infection. Material and method: This is a prospective study carried out from 20 March 2020 to 31 May 2020, of 444 cases identified in the radiology department of university hospital of Marrakech, concerning all patients with a clinical suspicion of coronavirus infection. Results: The average age of our patients was 52 years, with extremes ranging from 15 to 93 years, a sex H/F ratio of 1.41. Hypertension, diabetes and smoking were the most common co-morbidities. The most common clinical signs were cough, dyspnea and fever. The radiological signs most frequently found were the peripheral ground glass opacification of the posterior regions, followed by consolidations, less frequently the crazy paving, halo sign and reverse halo sign, 2 cases of unilateral form versus 119 cases of bilateral form. The percentage reached was as follows: Minimal (<10%): 37 cases, Moderate (10-25%): 25 cases, Extensive (25-50%): 24 cases, Severe (50-75%): 15 cases, Critical (>75%): 5 cases. The differential diagnosis mainly found were bronchopneumonia, exacerbations of bronchiectasis, cardiac decompensations and tuberculosis. The scanner-PCR correlation was as follows: PCR - / CT -: 106 cases, PCR + / CT +: 72 cases, PCR -/ CT +: 30 cases, PCR + / CT-: 16 cases, CT - / PCR not done: 198 cases, CT + / PCR not done: 19 cases. Conclusion: The scanner has had a central role in the management of patients with respiratory symptoms in this pandemic. This review also assessed the severity of lung disease, monitored disease progression based on worsening lesions, and participated in the patient referral decision (COVID vs Non-COVID unit) anticipating PCR data.