Incidence of incidental positron emission tomography and computed tomography signs of COVID-19 in asymptomatic cancer patients in Egypt
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Published:2023-01-19
Issue:1
Volume:29
Page:57-62
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ISSN:1020-3397
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Container-title:Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal
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language:
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Short-container-title:East Mediterr Health J.
Author:
Abdel-Kawi Mostafa,Taalab Khalid,Hussien Nervana,Ghandour Ahmed,Abdelazeem Amr,Romeih Marwa,El-Kassas Mohamed
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 was first reported in Egypt on 14 February 2020 and continues to be a major threat to public health. Aims: We studied the incidence of incidental positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) signs of COVID-19 in asymptomatic cancer patients and compared this with the number of reported COVID-19 cases during the same period. Methods: We included all cancer patients who underwent PET/CT at Misr Radiology Center, Cairo, between 2 May and 7 August 2020. Results: There were 479 patients who underwent PET/CT primarily for follow-up, and 66 (13.78%) of them showed radiological signs of COVID-19, with the peak incidence in weeks 7–8 of the study. This coincided and strongly correlated with the peak incidence of COVID-19 in Egypt (Pearson’s correlation coefficient test = 0.943). Conclusion: The incidence of incidental PET/CT signs of COVID-19 was in accordance with the officially reported incidence of COVID-19 in Egypt between 2 May and 7 August 2020. These results could be helpful for implementing and adjusting public health and social measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Publisher
World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO/EMRO)