Diagnostic utility of pharyngeal follicular structures in COVID-19: A large-scale cross-sectional study

• Published in: International journal of infectious diseases Vol. 149; p. 107244
• Main Authors: Takahashi, Hidenori, Morikawa, Miwa, Satake, Yugo, Nagamatsu, Hiroki, Hirose, Ryutaro, Yamada, Yuka, Toba, Naoya, Toyama-Kousaka, Mio, Ota, Shinichiro, Shinoda, Masahiro, Mineshita, Masamichi, Shinkai, Masaharu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnostic imaging; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pharynx; Pharynx - virology; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; Young Adult; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Diagnostic imaging; Cross-sectional studies; Pharynx

•Pharyngeal follicles are potential early-stage COVID-19 diagnostic markers.•Follicular structures show 73.6% sensitivity for COVID-19 diagnosis.•Follicles are detectable regardless of vaccination status or virus strain.•Mixed follicle patterns may distinguish COVID-19 from influenza.•Cross-sectiona...