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How Did Radiologists’ Diagnostic Accuracy Have Changed in Covid-19 Pneumonia; a Single Centre Retrospective Study
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  • Ali Murat Koc,
  • Levent Altın,
  • Türker Acar,
  • Alpay Arı,
  • Zehra Hilal Adıbelli
Ali Murat Koc
University of Health Sciences Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital

Corresponding Author:alimuratkoc@gmail.com

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Levent Altın
University of Health Sciences Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital
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Türker Acar
University of Health Sciences Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital
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Alpay Arı
University of Health Sciences Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital
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Zehra Hilal Adıbelli
University of Health Sciences Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital
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Abstract

Aims Delay and false positivity in PCR test results have necessitated accurate chest CT reporting for management of patients with COVID-19 suspected symptoms. Pandemic related workload and level of experience on covid-dedicated chest CT scans might have effected diagnostic performance of on-call radiologists. The aim of this study is to reveal the interpretation errors in chest-CT reports of COVID-19 suspected patients admitted to the ER. Methods COVID-19 dedicated chest-CT scans which were performed between March and June 2020 were re-evaluated and compared with the former reports of these scans and PCR test results. CT scan results were classified into four groups. Parenchymal involvement ratios, radiology departments’ workload, COVID-19 related educational activities have examined. Results Out of 5721 Chest-CT scans, 783 CTs belonging to 664 patients (340 female, 324 male) were included to this study. RT-PCR test was positive in 398; negative in 385 cases. PCR positivity was found to be highest in “normal” and “typical for covid” groups whereas lowest in “atypical for covid” and “not covid” groups. 5-25% parenchymal involvement ratio was found in 84.2% of the cases. Regarding number of chest CT scans performed, radiologists’ workload have found to be increased six-folds compared to the same months of the former year. With the re-evaluation, a total of 145 IEs (18.5%) have been found. IEs were mostly precipitated in the first two months (88.3%) and mostly in “not covid” class (60%) regardless of PCR positivity. COVID-19 and radiology entitled educational activities along with the ER admission rates within the first two months of pandemic have seem to be related with the decline of IEs within time. Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic made a great impact on radiology departments with an inevitable burden of daily chest-CT reporting. This workload and concomitant factors have possible effects on diagnostic challenges in COVID-19 pneumonia.
22 Jan 2021Submitted to International Journal of Clinical Practice
23 Jan 2021Submission Checks Completed
23 Jan 2021Assigned to Editor
01 Feb 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Feb 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Feb 20211st Revision Received
24 Feb 2021Submission Checks Completed
24 Feb 2021Assigned to Editor
30 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Accept