A spectrum of HRCT chest findings in RT-PCR positive asymptomatic COVID-19 patients at a COVID designated hospital in Nepal

Basnet, B.; Pant, S.; Rai, K.; Tulachan, N. B.; Karki, B.; Shahi, R. R.; Basnet, S. B.; Thapa, B. B.

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic is grappling the world with the surge of infection time and again. Clinicians are trying to justify the ethics of public health care. Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases are going undocumented and most of them practice self-isolation. Studies have revealed significant radiological changes among RT-PCR positive asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to characterized chest CT findings of asymptomatic RT-PCR-positive patients in one of the COVID designated hospitals in Nepal. Results: Out of 43, 26 (60.5%) participants had positive Chest CT scan findings consistent with COVID pneumonia. 65% had bilateral and 77% had multifocal lesions. The ground-glass opacities (92%), mixed (ground-glass opacities and consolidation) pattern (30.7%), and consolidation only (34.6%) were common chest CT findings. The median CT score was 3.5 (Interquartile range; 2-6). Conclusion: The majority of the RT-PCR positive asymptomatic patient present with CT scan changes of lungs which are important to determine clinical status, prognosis, and long-term sequel in those cohorts.