Researchers have now claimed that computed tomography angiogram (CTA) scans may offer fast and early detection of COVID-19 in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

The study, published in the journal Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, found that routine or standard care CTA scans were an accurate screening method for faster detection of COVID-19 since they include imaging of the upper portion of the lungs.

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"Conducting a CTA is already part of the stroke management process, and these scans provide an opportunity to assess the lungs for signs suggestive of COVID-19," said study author Charles Esenwa from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the US.

"Our team sought to determine if this already necessary scan could have a secondary use of identifying potential COVID-19 patients more quickly than a standard nasal swab COVID-19 test," Esenwa added.

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For the results, the research team conducted a retrospective analysis of patients treated for AIS at three hospitals.

A total of 57 patients who received a CTA scan within 24 hours of hospitalization for AIS were included in the study.

In combination with symptoms, CTA scan analysis is relatively accurate in diagnosing COVID-19, even compared to the nasal swab test. Pixabay

Researchers used CTA scans to evaluate the lung apices (the upper area of the lungs) for signs of COVID-19 pneumonia.

They then analyzed the accuracy of using CTA scans for Covid-19 diagnosis alone as well as in combination with patient-reported symptoms, such as cough and shortness of breath.

Researchers found that CTA scans in combination with patient feedback to Covid-19 symptom questions were able to diagnose COVID-19 with 83 percent accuracy before results were received from traditional nasal swab tests in AIS patients.

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In combination with symptoms, CTA scan analysis is relatively accurate in diagnosing COVID-19, even compared to the nasal swab test.

"Since this analysis is much faster and at no extra cost, we hope it could be incorporated as a rapid diagnostic tool for patients with acute stroke," Esenwa said.

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"In addition, accurately diagnosing COVID-19 within hours, rather than the sometimes days wait-time to receive the results from nasal swab tests could help protect both patients and medical professionals," Esenwa noted. (IANS)