Can computed tomography be a primary tool for COVID-19 detection? Evidence appraisal through meta-analysis
Edward Pei‐Chuan Huang, Chih‐Wei Sung, Chi‐Hsin Chen, Cheng‐Yi Fan, Pei‐Chun Lai, Yen‐Ta Huang
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on March 11, 2020 [1]. The current pandemic COVID-19 causes suspicious cases flocking into hospitals. The detection of COVID-19 by traditional reverse-transcription diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests is time-consuming and depends on the reliability of laboratory techniques. Several PCR-based rapid tests have been recently approved and only require less than 30 min. Chest computed tomography (CT) has been suggested as an alternative and reliable tool for the detection of COVID-19 in symptomatic patients in China [2]. However, the American College of Radiology recommended against the use of CT as a first-line test to diagnose COVID-19 on March 11, 2020 [3]. To validate this recommendation, we performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic value of chest CT in COVID-19.