Imaging Profile of the COVID-19 Infection: Radiologic Findings and Literature Review
Top Cited Papers
- 1 February 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging
- Vol. 2 (1), e200034
- https://doi.org/10.1148/ryct.2020200034
Abstract
Background COVID-19 (formerly known as the 2019 novel coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) has rapidly spread in mainland China and into multiple countries worldwide. The radiographic profile of this infection continues to evolve as more cases present beyond the epicenter of Wuhan, China. Purpose We present 21 COVID-19 cases from two Chinese centers with CT and chest radiograph (CXR) findings, as well as follow-up imaging in 5 cases. Materials and Methods Retrospective study in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Patients with COVID-19 infection were included. A systematic review of the published literature on COVID-19 infection’s radiological features. Results The predominant imaging pattern is of ground-glass opacification with occasional consolidation in the peripheries. Pleural effusions and lymphadenopathy were absent in all cases. Patients demonstrate evolution of the ground-glass opacities into consolidation, and subsequent resolution of the airspaces changes. Ground-glass and consolidative opacities visible on CT are sometimes undetectable on chest radiographs, suggesting that CT is a more sensitive imaging modality for investigation. The systematic review identified 4 other studies confirming the findings of bilateral and peripheral ground glass with or without consolidation as the predominant finding on CT chest examinations. Conclusion The COVID-19 infection pulmonary manifestation is predominantly characterized by ground-glass opacification with occasional consolidation on CT. Radiographic findings in patients presenting in Shenzhen and Hong Kong are in keeping with 4 previous publications from other sites. The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), initially reported in Wuhan, China, has been declared a global health emergency. CT has been used on a massive scale to help identify and investigate suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. We present the findings of 21 confirmed COVID-19 infection in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, China. We found that the most common findings on chest CT were bilateral ground-glass opacities with or without consolidation in the lung periphery. Pleural effusions and lymphadenopathy were absent in all patients. A systematic review was undertaken to summarize the 4 previous publications on the imaging findings of this emerging infection in a total of 233 patients. Ground glass with or without consolidation were the most common findings in all publications, in alignment with our own findings.Keywords
This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- Emerging 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) PneumoniaRadiology, 2020
- CT Imaging of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) PneumoniaRadiology, 2020
- A Novel Coronavirus Emerging in China — Key Questions for Impact AssessmentThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2020
- Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, ChinaThe Lancet, 2020
- A familial cluster of pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus indicating person-to-person transmission: a study of a family clusterThe Lancet, 2020
- Wave-CAIPI susceptibility-weighted imaging achieves diagnostic performance comparable to conventional susceptibility-weighted imaging in half the scan timeEuropean Radiology, 2020
- Fleischner Society: Glossary of Terms for Thoracic ImagingRadiology, 2008
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Radiographic Evaluation and Clinical Outcome MeasuresRadiology, 2003
- Thin-Section CT of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Evaluation of 73 Patients Exposed to or with the DiseaseRadiology, 2003
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Radiographic and CT FindingsAmerican Journal of Roentgenology, 2003