MDCT Findings of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pneumonia in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

Background and Objectives: Chest CT evaluation is often key to the evaluation of patients suspected of COVID-19 infection. Multi-detector CT findings of COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with hematologic malignancies have not previously been described in the literature. The aim of this study was to review the multidetector CT thoracic findings of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia in patients with hematologic malignancies.Methods: This study included 15 patients with hematologic malignancies. All patients proved to be infected with COVID-19. The median age was 44.67 years (range 25 -75 years). The hematological malignances were non-Hodgkin lymphoma (7 patients), acute myeloid leukaemia (4 patients), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (2 patients) and multiple myeloma (2 patients). All the patients underwent CT scanning using a multidetector CT scanner. CT images were assessed for following abnormalities: ground-glass opacity (GGO), consolidation, number of lung lobes affection, interlobular septal thickening, nodules, pleural effusion and airways abnormalities.Results: More than one CT finding was detected in every patient. The affection was mainly ground glass opacities detected in all 15 patients. The next common findings consolidation was detected in all 12/15 patients, airway wall thickening and dilatation in 8/15 patients, nodules in 7/15 patients, pleural effusion in 7/15 patients, interlobular septal thickening in 5/15 patients and lymphadenopathy in 1/15 patient.Conclusions: Multidetector CT is used for early and accurate assessment of pulmonary affection with COVID-19 infection. In epidemic area, negative RT-PCR but positive CT findings can still be highly suggestive of COVID-19 and RT-PCR must be repeated. Radiologists should be aware of CT features of this type of viral infection in patient with hematologic malignancies.Funding Statement: There is no financial support for this research and publication.Declaration of Interests: The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the institutional research ethics review committee (Mansoura University/Faculty of Medicine/ Egypt). IRB reference number is "R.20.04.787 ".