Lung computed tomography patterns of a cluster of asymptomatic young males with COVID-19 admitted to a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur
- Author:
Boon Hau Ng
1
;
Nik Nuratiqah Nik Abeed
1
;
Andrea Ban Yu Lin
1
;
Mohamed Faisal Abdul Hamid
1
;
Lydia Kamaruzaman
1
;
Muhammad Yusuf Abu Shamsi
;
Halim Gafor
;
Norlaila Mustafa,
;
Wan Nur Nafisah Wan Yahya
;
Shahrul Azmin
;
Khoo Ching Soong
;
Hemalatha Munusamy
;
Zhen Hao Ching
;
Hsueh Jing Low
;
Petrick Periyasamy
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; pneumonia; computed tomography; ground-glass opacification
- From: The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(4):368-371
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
- Abstract: Background and objective: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) was first reported in Malaysia in March 2020. We describe here the clinical characteristics and computed tomography (CT) patterns in asymptomatic young patients who had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study where 25 male in-patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz. Demographics, clinical data and CT images of these patients were reviewed by 2 senior radiologists. Results: In total there were 25 patients (all males; mean age [±SD], 21.64±2.40 years; range, 18-27 years). Patients with abnormal chest CT showed a relatively low normal absolute lymphocytes count (median: 2.2 x 109/L) and absolute monocyte count (median: 0.5 x 109/L). Lactate dehydrogenase was elevated in 5 (20%) of the patients. The procalcitonin level was normal while elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, platelet and C-reactive protein were common. Baseline chest CT showed abnormalities in 6 patients. The distribution of the lesions were; upper lobe 3 (12%) lower lobe 3 (12%) with peripheral distribution 4 (16%). Of the 25 patients included, 4 (16%) had ground glass opacification (GGO), 1 (4%) had a small peripheral subpleural nodule, and 1 (4%) had a dense solitary granuloma. Four patients had typical CT features of COVID-19. Conclusion: We found that the CT imaging showed peripheral GGO in our patients. They remained clinically stable with no deterioration of their respiratory symptoms suggesting stability in lung involvement. We postulate that rapid changes in CT imaging may not be present in young, asymptomatic, non-smoking COVID-19 patients. Thus the use of CT thorax for early diagnosis may be reserved for patients in the older age groups, and not in younger patients.
