Ultra-low-dose chest CT protocol during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic: a double-observer prospective study on 250 patients to evaluate its detection accuracy

Abstract Background While the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic almost reached its climax, unfortunately, new viral strains are rapidly spreading, and numbers infected young adults rising. Consequently, chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) demands increasing, regarding patients’ screening, initial evaluation follow up. This study aims to evaluate detection accuracy ultra-low-dose CT in comparison with routine low-dose reduce irradiation exposure hazards. Results was prospectively conducted on 250 patients during period from 15th December 2020 10th February 2021. All included were clinically suspected infection. subjected (45 mAs) (22 examinations. Finally, all had confirmatory PCR swab tests other dedicated laboratory tests. They 149 males 101 females (59.6%:40.4%). Their age ranged 16 84 years (mean 50 ± 34 SD). Patients divided according body weight; 104 less than 80 kg, 146 more kg. HRCT findings examined by two expert consultant radiologists independently, data analysis performed specialist radiologists. The inter-observer agreement (IOA) excellent (96–100%). 93.53–96.84% sensitivity 90.38–93.84% accuracy. signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is 12.8:16.1; CTDIvol (mGy) = 1.1 0.3, DLP (mGy cm) 42.2 7.9, mean effective dose (mSv/mGy 0.59 absolute cancer risk 0.02 × 10 -4 . Conclusion Ultra-low-dose can be reliably used