Diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relies on clinical features and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. The latter is constrained by limited sensitivity and a timescale of hours to yield results, with no point-of-care test widely available. A dedicated computed tomography study of the chest is likely to be more sensitive than RT-PCR for COVID-19. Carotid computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a routine acute stroke investigation and includes the lung apices. We aim to assess the lung apices on CTA for ground glass opacification and compare this with COVID-19 RT-PCR test results and clinical outcome measures.
Multi-centre prospective study evaluating computed tomography angiography studies performed for stroke patients as a diagnostic and prognostic imaging biomarker.