Investigation of the diagnostic importance and accuracy of CT in the chest compared to the RT-PCR test for suspected COVID-19 patients in Jordan.

Background : COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. The illness varies from mild to acute. Mild illness is treated even without hospitalization. RT-PCR is one of the main techniques, which are used to diagnose COVID-19, but in this paper, we have investigated that Chest CT is a more efficient alternative option to RT-Polymerase Chain Reaction. The purpose of our study is to diagnose the importance of chest CT in comparison to the RT-PCR test method for the patients who might have COVID-19 virus. The study will aid in contrasting the performance of chest CT method and RT-PCR method. Methods: This retrospective study included 1276 patients of the Jordanian hospitals' medical database that reception and following of suspected Covid-19 patients receiving high-resolution chest CT and real-time RT-PCR. Patients chosen underwent both chest CT and RT-PCR examinations, and the performance of chest CT in the diagnosis of COVID-19 evaluated, with maintaining the RT-PCR test as the reference standard. Results: The sensitivity and accuracy of chest CT in identifying COVID-19 were all higher in patients over 60 than in those under 60, with no difference in positive predictive values and negative predictive values. The accuracy in-patient under 60 is higher than over 60 patients. Males had a higher specificity of chest CT in the diagnosis of the COVID-19 virus than females, but there was no difference in sensitivity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, or accuracy. Conclusions: RT-PCR is considered as the great standard for the diagnosis of Covid-19. According to the findings of our study, the best alternative option to RT-PCR is chest CT scan. CT scan is the less sensitive method but faster than RT-PCR. In a clinical setting, a radiologist with adequate training can distinguish the virus COVID-19 from other viral-induced pneumonias.