Lung perfusion findings on perfusion SPEC T/CT imaging in non-hospitalized deisolated patients diagnosed with mild COVID-19 infection

Thumbnail Image
Files
Evbuomwan_Lung_2021.pdf (2.19 MB)
Date
2021
Authors
Evbuomwan, Osayande
Engelbrecht, Gerrit
Bergman, Melissa V.
Mokwena, Sello
Ayeni, Oluwatosin A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SpringerOpen
Abstract
Background: The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the incidence and type of lung perfusion abnormalities in non-hospitalized patients diagnosed with mild COVID-19 infection after de-isolation. Data from 56 non-hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection referred to our nuclear medicine department from July–December 2020 for a perfusion only SPECT/CT study or a ventilation perfusion SPECT/CT study were collected. Images were assessed for the presence and type of perfusion defects. The CT component of the study was also assessed for the presence of mosaic attenuation and COVID pneumonia changes. Results: Thirty-two (57.1%) cases had perfusion defects. There were 20 (35.7%) cases with defects in keeping with pulmonary embolism, 17 (30.4%) cases with defects associated with mosaic attenuation but not due to pulmonary embolism, and 6 (10.7%) of cases with defects due to pulmonary infiltrates from COVID pneumonia. A total of 24 (42.9%) cases had mosaic attenuation on CT, with 10 (17.9%) of them showing a pattern likely consistent with shunting on the perfusion images. Conclusion: Lung perfusion abnormalities are a common finding in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients with mild disease. They are usually either due to pulmonary embolism, parenchymal infiltrates, or other causes of mosaic attenuation related to, but not specific to the pathophysiology of COVID-19 infection. The value of VQ SPECT/CT imaging is also shown in this study, in detecting and differentiating the various types of perfusion abnormalities.
Description
Keywords
VQ SPECT/CT, Perfusion defects, COVID-19, Perfusion abnormalities, Mosaic attenuation
Citation
Evbuomwan, O., Engelbrecht, G., Bergman, M.V., Mokwena, S., & Ayeni, O.A. (2021). Lung perfusion findings on perfusion SPEC T/CT imaging in non-hospitalized deisolated patients diagnosed with mild COVID-19 infection. Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, 52, 144. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43055-021-00521-1
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11660/11853
Collections
Research Articles (Nuclear Medicine)