Specificity of chest computed tomography in COVID-19-associated pneumonia: a retrospective study

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Abstract

Aim: To assess the specificity of COVID-19- associated pneumonia detection by radiologists using a chest CT scan.

Materials and methods: From mid-February to early March 2020, 65  patients have been retrospectively selected from the Moscow City Clinical Hospital database; all of them had been treated in an inpatient facility with a  verified diagnosis of COVID-19. In addition, 75  patients from the Unified Radiological Information Service have been randomly selected. In December 2019, these outpatients had been sent by an attending physician for a  chest CT scan with suspected pneumonia. The imaging studies showed non-specific inflammation signs in the lungs. All 140  scans were analyzed by seven radiologists from different Russian cities, who independently categorized each study as “COVID-19” or “Other pneumonia”.

Results: Chest computed tomography had a  92%  specificity in the differential diagnosis of COVID-19-associated pneumonia, and its specificity in the general population is expected to be at least 80% with a high probability. The inter-rater variability was low (coefficient of variation for specificity 12.6%). The sensitivity in our study was 76.2%, and the coefficient of variation for sensitivity 23.5%. These findings are generally consistent with other studies. The primary study limitation is the absence of a sample with confirmed pneumonia caused by other viruses.

Conclusion: Chest CT is highly specific for the detection of COVID-19-associated pneumonia.

About the authors

T. A. Korb

Research and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies of the Moscow Healthcare Department

Author for correspondence.
Email: t-anya@list.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9291-1466

Tatiana A. Korb – Junior Research Fellow, Radiology Research Sector 

24–1 Petrovka ul., Moscow, 127051

Russian Federation

P. V. Gavrilov

Saint-Petersburg State Research Institute of Phthisiopulmonology of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation

Email: spbniifrentgen@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3251-4084

Pavel V. Gavrilov – MD, PhD, Leading Research Fellow, Head of Department of Radiology

2–4 Ligovskiy prospekt, Saint Petersburg, 191036

Russian Federation

V. Yu. Chernina

Research and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies of the Moscow Healthcare Department

Email: chernina909@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0302-293X

Valeria Yu. Chernina – MD, Head of Radiology Research Sector 

24–1 Petrovka ul., Moscow, 127051

Russian Federation

I. A. Blokhin

Research and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies of the Moscow Healthcare Department

Email: blokhin.ioann@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2681-9378

Ivan A. Blokhin – MD, Junior Research Fellow, Radiology Research Sector 

24–1 Petrovka ul., Moscow, 127051

Russian Federation

O. O. Aleshina

Research and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies of the Moscow Healthcare Department

Email: olya.aleshina.tula@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9924-0204

Olga O. Aleshina – MD, Junior Research Fellow, Radiology Research Sector 

24–1 Petrovka ul., Moscow, 127051

Russian Federation

O. A. Mokienko

Research and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies of the Moscow Healthcare Department

Email: o.mokienko@npcmr.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7826-5135

Olesya A. Mokienko – MD, PhD, Deputy Director on Science 

24–1 Petrovka ul., Moscow, 127051

Russian Federation

S. P. Morozov

Research and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies of the Moscow Healthcare Department

Email: morozov@npcmr.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6545-6170

Sergey P. Morozov – MD, PhD, Professor, Director 

24–1 Petrovka ul., Moscow, 127051

Russian Federation

V. A. Gombolevskiy

Research and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies of the Moscow Healthcare Department

Email: g_victor@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1816-1315

Victor A. Gombolevskiy – MD, PhD, Head of Medical Research Department 

24–1 Petrovka ul., Moscow, 127051

Russian Federation

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Copyright (c) 2021 Korb T.A., Gavrilov P.V., Chernina V.Y., Blokhin I.A., Aleshina O.O., Mokienko O.A., Morozov S.P., Gombolevskiy V.A.

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