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Updated: Nov 12, 2025
Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia
Published on: December 19, 2020
Chest radiographs in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
M Letchumanan1, A A Anour2, S S Ganapathy3
1Tawau General Hospital, Department of Radiology, Sabah, Malaysia. mohanaletchumanan@gmail.com.
Insights
This study identified common radiographic patterns of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Malaysian patients, noting ground glass opacities as a key indicator. Chest X-rays can aid in early COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health concern.
- Understanding the radiographic manifestations of COVID-19 is crucial for diagnosis and management.
- Previous studies have described COVID-19 radiographic patterns, but regional variations may exist.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the radiographic patterns of COVID-19 in a Malaysian cohort.
- To analyze the distribution of radiographic findings among different patient subgroups.
- To observe the evolution of radiographic abnormalities over time.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of chest radiographs from 82 patients with confirmed COVID-19 at Hospital Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia.
- Two radiologists independently reviewed the radiographs to determine patterns, distribution, and changes.
- Data were analyzed based on patient demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, and age.
Main Results:
- Abnormal baseline radiographs were observed in 45.1% of patients, higher in those with comorbidities (71.4%) and older adults (69.3%).
- Ground glass opacities were the most common finding (35.4%), typically peripheral and in lower lung zones.
- Multifocal abnormalities were frequent (20.7%), predominantly in the left lung (19.5%).
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 pneumonia exhibits a distinct radiographic pattern, including peripheral, basilar ground glass opacities.
- Chest radiography serves as a valuable screening tool, especially when combined with clinical and epidemiological data.
- Early diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia can be facilitated by integrating radiographic findings with clinical assessments.
Objectives:
To recognize the radiographic patterns of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Malaysia.
Materials And Methods:
Chest radiographs of patients confirmed with COVID-19 in Hospital Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia were retrospectively analyzed by two radiologists. The radiographic pattern, distribution among subgroups and evolution of the disease over time were determined.
Results:
Among the 82 patients studied, 65 (79.3%) were males. Mean age of our cohorts was 37 ± 15 years. Baseline chest radiographs were abnormal in 37 patients (45.1%). Over half (52.9%) of the symptomatic patients had abnormal baseline radiograph. Among the children, patients with comorbidities, and patients 60 years of age and above, the abnormal radiographs were 14.3%, 71.4% and 69.3% respectively. Ground glass opacities were the commonest abnormal radiographic feature (35.4%), were peripherally located (35.4%) with predilection for the lower zones (29.3%). Most radiographic abnormalities were multifocal (20.7%) and frequently located in the left lung (19.5%). Radiographic recovery was observed in 15 of 18 patients (83%). Computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated greater extent of the disease than observed in radiographs of the same patient.
Conclusions:
COVID-19 pneumonia presented with a specific radiographic pattern in our cohort of patients, comprising of ground glass opacities in peripheral and basilar distribution, affecting a single lung field and was observed in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Chest radiograph is a useful adjunct screening tool, and in combination with clinical and epidemiological assessment may facilitate in early diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.
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