Purpose

To reveal that a computed tomography surveillance program (CT-surveillance) could demonstrate the epidemiologic features of COVID-19 infection and simultaneously investigate the type and frequency of CT findings using clinical CT data.

Materials and methods

We targeted individuals with possible CT findings of viral pneumonia. Using an online questionnaire, we asked Japanese board-certified radiologists to register their patients’ information including patient age and sex, the CT examination date, the results of PCR test for COVID-19 infection, CT findings, and the postal code of the medical institution that performed the CT. We compared the diurnal patient number and the cumulative regional distribution map of registrations in CT-surveillance to those of the PCR-positive patient surveillance (PCR-surveillance).

Results

A total of 637 patients was registered from January 1 to April 17, 2020 for CT-surveillance. Their PCR test results were positive (n = 62.5–398%), negative (n = 8.9–57%), unknown (n = 26.2–167%), and other disease (n = 2.4–15%). An age peak at 60–69 years and male dominance were observed in CT-surveillance. The most common CT finding was bilaterally distributed ground-glass opacities. The diurnal number and the cumulative regional distribution map by CT-surveillance showed tendencies that were similar to those revealed by PCR-surveillance.

Conclusion

Using clinical CT data, CT-surveillance program delineated the epidemiologic features of COVID-19 infection.

中文翻译：

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计算机断层扫描监测有助于跟踪 COVID-19 的爆发。

目的

揭示计算机断层扫描监测程序（CT-surveillance）可以证明 COVID-19 感染的流行病学特征，并同时使用临床 CT 数据调查 CT 发现的类型和频率。

材料和方法

我们针对可能有病毒性肺炎 CT 表现的个体。通过在线问卷调查，我们要求日本认证放射科医生登记他们的患者信息，包括患者年龄和性别、CT 检查日期、COVID-19 感染的 PCR 检测结果、CT 结果和医疗机构的邮政编码进行 CT 的机构。我们比较了 CT 监测中登记的昼夜患者数量和累积区域分布图与 PCR 阳性患者监测（PCR 监测）的登记情况。

结果

2020 年 1 月 1 日至 4 月 17 日，共有 637 名患者登记接受 CT 监测。他们的 PCR 检测结果为阳性（n  = 62.5–398%）、阴性（n  = 8.9–57%）、未知（n  = 26.2–167%）和其他疾病（n  = 2.4–15%）。在 CT 监测中观察到 60-69 岁的年龄峰值和男性优势。最常见的 CT 表现是双侧分布的磨玻璃影。CT监测的日数和累积区域分布图显示出与PCR监测相似的趋势。

结论

利用临床 CT 数据，CT 监测计划描绘了 COVID-19 感染的流行病学特征。