Retrospective evaluation of Chest CTs and [18F]-FDG PET/CTs in Oncological Patients with Unsuspected Asymptomatic Infection with COVID 19
Tülin Ozturk1, Cebrail Azar2, Fatma Ozturk Keles3, Yavuz Narin41Department of Radiology, Elazig Medical Park Hospital, Elazig, Turkey, 2Department of Chest Disease, Elazig Medical Park Hospital , Elazig, Turkey, 3Department of Radiology, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey, 4Department of Nuclear Medicine, Elazig Medical Park Hospital , Elazig, Turkey
Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of asymptomatic COVID 19 patients who underwent CT and PET/CT for oncological indications and to detect lung changes in CT and PET/CT in these patients. Methods: Between March 2020 and September 2021, 3135 patients admitted to the nuclear medicine department were retrospectively analyzed. Our study involved the oncology patients with a history of contact, clinical and laboratory findings and possible COVID-19 disease, whose radiological findings at PET/CT and CT were compatible with viral pneumonia and confirmed by PCR testing. Results: Lung imaging findings suspicious of SARS-Co V-2 infection were found in 78 of 3135 patients (2,48%) included. The most frequent finding was multiple ground glass opacities (GGOs). In our study, we found characteristic peripheral ground-glass opacities with high FDG activitiy with increased nodal FDG uptake in favor of reactive lymphadenitis in FDG-PET/CT. Conclusion: Chest CT is used in the initial diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19 progression as well as in the evaluation of complications. Although PET imaging is not typically considered among the primary research methods for the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections, it has made a significant contribution to the incidental diagnosis of especially asymptomatic COVID-19 oncological cases. Keywords: COVID-19, Coronavirus, Chest CT, FDG PET/CT, Oncologic indications.
Cite This Article
Ozturk T, Azar C, Keles F, Narin Y. Retrospective evaluation of Chest CTs and [18F]-FDG PET/CTs in Oncological Patients with Unsuspected Asymptomatic Infection with COVID 19. EJMI. 2021; 5(4): 441-447
Corresponding Author: Tülin Ozturk