CT evaluation of lung infiltrates in the two months preceding the Coronavirus disease 19 pandemic in Canton Ticino (Switzerland)

Rizzo, Stefania; Catanese, Carola; Puligheddu, Carla; Epistolio, Samantha; Ramelli, Giulia; Frattini, Milo; Pereira Mestre, Ricardo; Nadarajah, Navarajah; Rezzonico, Ermidio; Magoga, Francesco; Milan, Lisa; Del Grande, Filippo; Giovanella, Luca; Ceriani, Luca

doi:10.1007/s11547-022-01466-9

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Journal article

CT evaluation of lung infiltrates in the two months preceding the Coronavirus disease 19 pandemic in Canton Ticino (Switzerland) : were there suspicious cases before the official first case?

Rizzo, Stefania ORCID Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland - Facoltà Di Scienze Biomediche, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland
Catanese, Carola Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland
Puligheddu, Carla Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland
Epistolio, Samantha ORCID Istituto Cantonale Di Patologia (ICP), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Locarno, Switzerland
Ramelli, Giulia Istituto Cantonale Di Patologia (ICP), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Locarno, Switzerland
Frattini, Milo Istituto Cantonale Di Patologia (ICP), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Locarno, Switzerland
Pereira Mestre, Ricardo Service of Medical Oncology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Bellinzona, Switzerland
Nadarajah, Navarajah Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland
Rezzonico, Ermidio Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland
Magoga, Francesco Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland
Milan, Lisa ORCID Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland
Del Grande, Filippo Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland - Facoltà Di Scienze Biomediche, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland
Giovanella, Luca Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland - University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Ceriani, Luca ORCID Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland (IIMSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland - Facoltà Di Scienze Biomediche, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland

2022

Published in:

La radiologia medica. - 2022, vol. 127, p. 360–368

English Purpose: The main objective of this study was to assess the presence of pulmonary infltrates with computed tomography (CT) appearance compatible with infection by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in Canton Ticino in the 2 months preceding the frst ofcial case. Secondary aims were to compare the classifcation of infltrates in the same time frame in 2020 and 2019; to compare the number of chest CT scans in the same period; to search for pathological confrmation of the virus. Materials and methods: Chest CT scans performed between January 1 and February 24 in 2019 and 2020 were collected and classifed by COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS). Pathological presence of the virus was searched for when appropriate material was available. Results: The fnal cohort included 881 patients. Among the CO-RADS 3 and 4 categories, 30 patients had pneumonitis of unknown etiology. Pathological specimens were available in six patients but they were negative for COVID-19. Conclusion: Before the frst ofcial case of COVID-19 infection, in Canton Ticino there were about 30 cases of pneumonitis of uncertain origin, with CT appearance compatible with infection by COVID-19, but with no confrmation of the disease. The number of chest CT scans in the frst two months of 2020 was >12% compared to 2019.

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