Evaluation of initial chest computed tomography (CT) findings of COVID-19 pneumonia in 117 deceased patients: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND/AIM: There is no study in the literature in which only chest computed tomography (CT) findings of deceased cases obtained at admission were examined, and the relationship between these findings and mortality was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 117 deceased patients with COVID-19 infection confirmed by positive polymerase chain reaction and undergone chest CT were enrolled. We evaluated initial chest CT findings and their relationship, location, prevalence, and the frequency with mortality. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 73 ±18 years; 71 of all patients were male and 46 were female. The predominant feature was pure ground-glass opacity (GGO) lesion (82.0%), and 59.8% of cases had pure consolidation. There was no cavitation or architectural distorsion. Pericardial effusion was found in 9.4% the patients, and pleural effusions were found in 15.3% of them. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was only 11.9% in total. CONCLUSION: In deceased patients, on admission CTs, pure consolidation, pleural and pericardial effusion, mediastinal LAP were more common than ordinary cases. It was these findings that should also raise the concern when they were seen on chest CT; therefore, these radiologic features have the potential to represent prognostic imaging markers in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.