Retrospective evaluation of radiological findings in children with COVID 19

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the relationship between imaging techniques and clinical and laboratory parameters in pediatrics COVID-19 patients. Material and Method: Our study includes 187 patients under the age of 18 whose diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed by PCR testing. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiological imaging findings of the patients were reviewed retrospectively from their file records. Results: 57.2% of the patients were male and the mean age was 110.1±67.4 months. Most of the patients were mild and asymptomatic to the disease. A pulmonary finding associated with COVID-19 was detected in 21 (12%) of 175 patients who underwent PAAC radiographs. The most common findings were consolidation (n=16; 9.1%), bilateral ground-glass view (n=11; 6.3%), and atelectasis (n=5; 2.9%), respectively. Computed lung tomography was performed in 67 of the patients. The presence of a pulmonary finding associated with COVID-19 was detected in 28 (41.8%) of these patients. The three most common findings, respectively, were consolidation (n=16; 23.9%), bilateral ground glass appearance (n=16; 23.9%), and atelectasis (n=15; 22.4%). It was determined that those with imaging findings on PAAC X-ray required more paediatrics intensive care, had longer hospital stays, had comorbid disease, cough, and tachypnea complaints, and had higher acute phase (Ferritin, Fibrinogen, C-Reactive protein (CRP), Procalcitonin) reactants (p<0.05). Tachypnea, Procalcitonin and CRP values were found to be significantly higher in patients with findings on computed tomography of the lungs (p<0.05). As the disease severity increased, the frequency of findings increased in both imaging modalities (p<0.05). Especially in patients <1 year of age, the frequency of significant findings increased in both imaging methods (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was observed that as the severity of the disease increased, radiological findings increased, and imaging findings were higher in children under 1 year of age compared to other age groups. In the light of these results, we think that imaging methods can be performed when necessary in children with suspected COVID-19 and can provide preliminary information about the course and severity of the disease. Key Words: Computed Tomography, COVID-19, Pediatrics, Radiological findings, X-Ray