AUTHOR=Ramtohul Toulsie , Cabel Luc , Paoletti Xavier , Chiche Laurent , Moreau Pauline , Noret Aurélien , Vuagnat Perrine , Cherel Pascal , Tardivon Anne , Cottu Paul , Bidard François-Clément , Servois Vincent 

TITLE=Quantitative CT Extent of Lung Damage in COVID-19 Pneumonia Is an Independent Risk Factor for Inpatient Mortality in a Population of Cancer Patients: A Prospective Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.01560

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2020.01560

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Background: CT lung extent has emerged as potential risk factor of Covid-19 pneumonia severity with mainly semi quantitative assessment, and outcome was not assessed in the specific oncology setting. The main goal was to evaluate the prognostic role of quantitative assessment of the extent of lung damage for early mortality of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in cancer patients. 

Methods: We prospectively included consecutive cancer patients with recent onset of COVID-19 pneumonia assessed by chest CT between March 15, 2020 and April 20, 2020 and followed until May 1, 2020. Demographic, clinical, laboratory test data and imaging findings were recorded. Quantitative chest CT assessment of COVID-19 pneumonia was based on the density distribution of lung lesions using a freely available software recently released (Myrian XP-LungⓇ). The association between extent of lung damage and overall survival was studied by univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. The Uno C-index, was used to assess the discriminatory value of the quantitative CT extent of lung damage. 

Results: Seventy cancer patients with chest CT evidence of COVID-19 were included. After a median follow-up of 25 days, 17 patients (24%) had died. The median quantitative chest CT extent of COVID-19 was 20% (IQR=14-35, range=3-59) for non-survivors versus 10% (IQR=6-15, range=2-55) for survivors (p=0.002). The extent of COVID-19 pneumonia was correlated with inpatient management (p=0.003) and oxygen therapy requirements (p<0.001). Independent factors associated with death were Performance Statusperformance status (PS) ≥2 (HR=3.9, 95%CI=[1.1-13.8] p=0.04), and extent of COVID-19 pneumonia ≥30% (HR=12.0, 95%CI=[2.2-64.4] p=0.004). No differences were found regarding the histology of cancer, cancer stage, metastases sites or type of oncologic treatment between survivors and non-survivors group. The cross-validated Uno C-index of the model including Performance StatusPS and extent of COVID-19 pneumonia was 0.83, 95%CI=[0.73-0.93]. 

Conclusions: The quantitative chest CT extent of COVID-19 pneumonia was a strong independent prognostic factor of early inpatient mortality in a population of cancer patients.