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CT-Scan should be done for early clinical diagnosis of COVID-19, says Chennai doctors

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Omjasvin MD    01 September 2020

At the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital in Chennai, a group of doctors are presently undergoing a study regarding identification of the presence of COVID-19 infection through clinical diagnosis, prior to the RT-PCR test results.

The study has an objective to prove the accurateness of CT (Computed Tomography) scan findings above RTPCR test findings, for early diagnosis and treatment.

Dr Paranthaman, Professor of Medicine at KMC, head of the study, said that a total 300 patients are enrolled and are aiming to identify COVID-19 early using X-Ray, CT scan and SpO2 monitoring. Patients who came to the hospital with cough, low oxygen saturation, fatigue, exertion and breathlessness were included in the study. He further said that the approach includes taking CT-Scan of patients who had symptoms very similar to COVID-19 with oxygen saturation level below 90 and giving them treatment immediately.

Dr Paranthaman said that if RT-PCR is negative, they observe the patient as clinically positive that is based on CT and SpO2 findings. This observation is only made for patients under an intensive care set up. Also, this approach to identify COVID-19 by clinical diagnosis can facilitate early treatment and prevent mortality. An example of a patient having severe breathing issues and was clinically positive, came negative in RT-PCR. However, they started treatment based on CT findings, and he came positive in the second RTPCR test consequently.

He further said that if a patient remains negative in consequent PCR tests, then they will be considered COVID negative in the final report but observations stating that the patient required similar treatment to that of the coronavirus as they were clinically positive based on the findings of CT, SpO2 levels in an intensive care set up.

The Chennai Corporation has started referring symptomatic patients directly for treatment since August, instead of waiting for the results of RT-PCR test that take up to 24 hours. Approximately 800 patients are sent directly to government hospitals from fever camps. A senior doctor with the hospital, also a part of the study, said that the patients were administered steroids and supportive treatment in the initial stages after their CT-Scan findings.

Studies have shown that CT-Scan findings are more effective than RT-PCR findings, globally too. One more study done by doctors of Mount Sinai in the United States, with almosta sample of 1000 patients that was published in the journal ‘Radiology’ had concluded that CT-Scan outcomes had assisted in early diagnosis of COVID-19, and was more reliable, practical and rapid.

The doctors who were a part of the study said that they were able to discover specific patterns in the lungs as markers to recognize the infection. They too concluded that CT-Scan must be used as the primary screening tool for COVID-19.

Source: The New Indian Express

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