Three unsuspected CT diagnoses of COVID-19

David Vu1, Maryanne Ruggiero1, Woo Sung Choi1

  • 1Radiology Department of Maimonides Medical Center, 4802 10th Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11219, USA.

Emergency Radiology
|April 15, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Radiologists can identify potential COVID-19 cases using chest imaging, even in patients with non-respiratory symptoms. This aids early quarantine and limits disease spread.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, presents diagnostic challenges due to limited testing availability.
  • Typical COVID-19 imaging findings include ground-glass opacities, often in basal and peripheral lung zones.

Observation:

  • Three patients with non-respiratory symptoms underwent CT scans including portions of the lungs.
  • Suspicious imaging findings prompted COVID-19 testing in all three patients.

Findings:

  • All three patients tested positive for COVID-19.
  • One patient presented with the novel co-occurrence of COVID-19 and intraparenchymal hemorrhage.

Implications:

  • CT imaging of the chest, even during non-respiratory evaluations, can reveal COVID-19.
  • Early identification through imaging facilitates timely quarantine, reducing further transmission.
  • This approach is crucial when COVID-19 testing is limited.
Abstract

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