Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia
Published on: December 19, 2020
Imaging in corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-A Scoping review
Ankush Jajodia1, Lukas Ebner2, Benedikt Heidinger3
1Dep. of Radiology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre -Delhi, India.
Insights
Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis via RT-PCR has limitations. Imaging aids in assessing disease severity and managing COVID-19 patients when RT-PCR is negative or symptoms are severe.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Infectious Diseases
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic affecting the respiratory system.
- Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the standard diagnostic test for COVID-19.
- RT-PCR limitations include being time-consuming and insufficient for assessing disease severity, impacting containment and healthcare management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review typical imaging findings in COVID-19 patients.
- To discuss differential diagnoses for COVID-19 imaging.
- To outline common complications observed in COVID-19 imaging.
Main Methods:
- Review of typical imaging findings in COVID-19.
- Analysis of differential diagnoses.
- Identification of common complications.
Main Results:
- Imaging is crucial for patients with high clinical suspicion but negative RT-PCR results.
- Imaging is indicated for diagnosed COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe symptoms.
- The article details characteristic imaging appearances, differential diagnoses, and complications.
Conclusions:
- Imaging plays a vital role in managing COVID-19, especially when RT-PCR is inconclusive or disease is severe.
- Careful consideration of imaging indications is necessary to minimize infection risks.
- Understanding imaging findings aids in comprehensive patient management and epidemiological control.
Abstract:
Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) originated in the Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in November 2019 and has since been declared a pandemic by the WHO. COVID-19 is an acute infectious disease, primarily affecting the respiratory system. Currently, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) performed on respiratory specimens is considered the reference by which to diagnose COVID-19. However, the limitations of RT-PCR, specifically, the fact that it is time-consuming and inadequate for the assessment of disease severity, have affected the process of epidemiological disease containment and has taken a toll on the healthcare management chain. As the risk of infection for other patients and personnel must be kept to a minimum, the indications for imaging have to be carefully considered. Imaging is primarily performed in patients with a negative RT-PCR, but a high clinical suspicion of COVID-19, or, in patients with diagnosed COVID-19 who are suffering from moderate to severe symptoms. In this article, we review the typical imaging findings in COVID-19, the differential diagnoses, and common complications.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:14Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:27Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:10Computed Tomography
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...