The value of CT imaging for COVID-19 pneumonia: report of a false-negative nucleic acid test case.

In this brief letter we would like to refer to you some information about the value of CT imaging for corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia in cases which have inconsistent COVID-19 nucleic acid test.

A 34-year-old man had a 1-day history of fever (39.0 °C) entered our hospital who resided in Wuhan, China (COVID-19 epicenter) but had traveled to Chengdu, China. The detection of Influenza A, B virus antigens was negative. Real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction of the patient’s nasopharyngeal specimen was positive for the COVID-19 nucleic acid test (NAT) (Jan. 22, 2020). Chest computed tomography (CT) (, Jan. 22, 2020) displayed slightly high density and obscure patchy shadows in the apical segment of the right upper lobe, suggesting inflammation. He was diagnosed COVID-19 in our hospital and then transferred to Chengdu Public Health Clinical Medical Center (the government-designated hospital for COVID-19 pneumonia). However, in the latter hospital, COVID-19 pneumonia was excluded because two consecutive COVID-19 NATs were negative. The patient was subsequently discharged. Nevertheless, he still had intermittent fever and came to our hospital again on Jan. 28, 2020. CT showed progressive ground-glass opacities of the upper lobe of the right lung (, Jan. 28, 2020). The diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia was confirmed again by a positive COVID-19 NAT on the same day. A subsequent chest CT images showed further progressive ground-glass opacities of the right lung upper lobe (, Feb. 1, 2020). After antiviral treatment, the patient was discharged with three consecutive negative COVID-19 NATs and improved CT images (, Feb. 8, 2020) on Feb. 10, 2020.

Figure 1

Transverse chest CT image from a 34-year-old man showing slightly high density and obscure patchy shadows in the apical segment of the right lung upper lobe on Day 2 after symptom onset.

Figure 2

CT images showing progressive ground-glass opacities of the right lung upper lobe on Day 7 after symptom onset. Compared with previous CT image (), the lesions were enlarged and the density of lung opacities were higher.

Figure 3

CT images showing further progressive ground-glass opacities of the right lung upper lobe on Day 11 after symptom onset.

Figure 4

CT image showing improved ground-glass opacities of the right lung upper lobe on Day 18 after symptom onset. Compared with previous CT images (), the lesions were decreased and the density of lung opacities were lower.

In December 2019, an outbreak of COVID-19 pneumonia began in Wuhan (Hubei, China). According to current diagnostic criteria, laboratory examination such as swab test has become a standard and formative assessment for the diagnosis of COVID-19 (1-4). However, many clinical experts reported orally that the positive rate of NAT was low, even only 30–50%. Some patients experienced multiple negative NATs before definitive diagnosis. Fang et al. also reported in a series of 51 patients with chest CT and RT-PCR assay performed within 3 days, the sensitivity of CT for COVID-19 infection was 98% compared to RT-PCR sensitivity of 71% (5). False negative results may occur due to the influence of COVID-19 nucleic acid detection extraction method, kit sensitivity, variation in detection rate from different manufacturers, insufficient viral material in the specimen, low patient viral load, and other factors (5,6). The case we reported experienced NAT four times and the results were contradictory, which we speculated was due to the use of kits from different manufacturers (Sansure Biotech for our hospital, while Daan gene co. LTD for another). When COVID-19 pneumonia was highly suspected clinically, inconsistent COVID-19 NAT results may lead to confusion in diagnosis.

To address this problem, HRCT can clearly show pulmonary lesions and their progress, providing valuable evidence for clinical diagnosis (4,7-9). Typical CT findings for COVID-19 pneumonia included bilateral pulmonary parenchymal ground-glass and consolidative pulmonary opacities, sometimes with a rounded morphology and a peripheral lung distribution (7). In clinically suspicious cases with typical positive CT image findings, patient isolation and repeat COVID-19 NAT is required to avoid misdiagnosis and prevent the spreading of this disease. Meanwhile, mimics of COVID-19, such as other known viral pneumonia (including influenza virus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, etc.), mycoplasmal pneumonia, and non-infectious pneumonia (including vasculitis, acute interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, etc.) should be considered to avoid misdiagnosis and excessive anxiety.

In conclusion, for positive COVID-19 NAT cases, CT can show pulmonary lesions and monitor the changes of lung lesions on some rapidly progressive patients, provide a baseline for the evaluation of treatment, while for negative COVID-19 NAT cases, we recommend CT screening and assisting clinical diagnosis COVID-19 for patients with clinical and epidemiologic features compatible with COVID-19 infection.

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