Structured HRCT Chest Reporting in COVID-19

Purpose: Our objective is to develop a systematic approach for reporting of COVID-19 pneumonia on CT scans. In this study, we sought to use certain image reading techniques to construct a format which guides the consulting physician towards the appropriate management and treatment. Method: RT-PCR positive tested patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who attended our radiology CT scan clinic underwent chest HRCT investigations and a thorough retrospective review of each patient helped to classify them according to a structured reporting template with five categories as follows: Normal, Unlikely, Indeterminate, High Suspicion and Characteristic. Structured reports were written by an expert radiologist which included a CORAD-Classification List, Severity Index Score and Initial/Final Impressions. Results: The study involved scanning in a total of 12 COVID-19 RT-PCR positive patients of the ages ranging from 22-80 years, mean age ? standard deviation, 50 years ? 18 and the following features were evident: Equivocal findings for COVID 19 infection, abnormalities suspicious for COVID-19 infection and typical COVID-19 findings like Ground glass opacities, Crazy paving, Reverse halo, Consolidations, Honeycombing and Inter-septal thickening. Conclusions: This study supports the effective use of structured reports (SRs) of chest HRCTs in COVID-19 patients, to optimize reporting time, for better simplification of patient awareness and education of their condition and to provide a qualitative accuracy for documented information.