Coronavirus has widely spread around the world in a short time. The disease is caused by the novel SARS-COV-2 virus that targets mainly the respiratory system, with manifestations ranging from asymptomatic or mild symptoms to severe bronchopneumonia and impaired respiratory system. The definitive diagnosis is reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction assay (RT-PCR). Imaging aids in the evaluation and assessment of the disease progression, with CT scan being superior to other modalities. Chest X-ray has lower efficiency than CT scan, particularly in the early stage of the disease. However, it can be useful in the emergency setting and high influx of patients, and limited resources. We aimed to review the literature for the role of chest imaging in the diagnosis and assessment of disease severity of COVID-19, in comparison with CT imaging. PubMed database was utilized for articles selection, and selected papers had undergone a thorough review. Chest imaging plays an important role in the evaluation assessment of the disease severity of COVID-19 individuals. CT scan is superiorly effective to other radiological tools in assessing the disease progression. While CXR is lower than CT in this aspect, it is still appropriate to use when CT is not applicable in an emergency, or high load of patients, or when it is unavailable.
1. Magomedova UG, Khadartseva ZA, Grechko VV, Polivanova MN, Mishvelov AE, Povetkin SN, et al. The Role of Covid-19 in the Acute Respiratory Pathology Formation in Children. Pharmacophore. 2020;11(5):61-5.
2. Damanhouri ZA, Alkreathy HM, Ali AS, Karim S. The potential role of Fluoroquinolones in the management of Covid-19 a rapid review. J Adv Pharm Educ Res. 2021;11(1):128-34.
3. Zhu N, Zhang D, Wang W, Li X, Yang B, Song J, et al. A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(8):727-33. doi:10.1056/nejmoa2001017
4. Sun P, Lu X, Xu C, Sun W, Pan B. Understanding of COVID-19 based on current evidence. J Med Virol. 2020;92(6):548-51. doi:10.1002/jmv.25722
5. Rubin GD, Ryerson CJ, Haramati LB, Sverzellati N, Kanne JP, Raoof S, et al. The role of chest imaging in patient management during the covid-19 pandemic: A multinational consensus statement from the Fleischner society. Radiology. 2020;296(1):172-80. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020201365
6. Chen N, Zhou M, Dong X, Qu J, Gong F, Han Y, et al. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study. Lancet. 2020;395(10223):507-13. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30211-7
7. Kooraki S, Hosseiny M, Myers L, Gholamrezanezhad A. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: What the Department of Radiology Should Know. J Am Coll Radiol. 2020;17(4):447-51. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2020.02.008
8. Zu ZY, Jiang MD, Xu PP, Chen W, Ni QQ, Lu GM, et al. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Perspective from China. Radiology. 2020;296(2): E15-25. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020200490
9. Li Y, Yao L, Li J, Chen L, Song Y, Cai Z, et al. Stability issues of RT-PCR testing of SARS-CoV-2 for hospitalized patients clinically diagnosed with COVID-19. J Med Virol. 2020;92(7):903-8. doi:10.1002/jmv.25786
10. Rothe C, Schunk M, Sothmann P, Bretzel G, Froeschl G, Wallrauch C, et al. Transmission of 2019-nCoV Infection from an Asymptomatic Contact in Germany. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(10):970-1. doi:10.1056/nejmc2001468
11. Bernheim A, Mei X, Huang M, Yang Y, Fayad ZA, Zhang N, et al. Chest CT findings in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Relationship to duration of infection. Radiology. 2020;295(3):685-91. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020200463
12. Li Y, Xia L. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Role of chest CT in diagnosis and management. Am J Roentgenol. 2020;214(6):1280-6. doi:10.2214/AJR.20.22954
13. Zhao W, Zhong Z, Xie X, Yu Q, Liu J. Relation between chest CT findings and clinical conditions of coronavirus disease (covid-19) pneumonia: A multicenter study. Am J Roentgenol. 2020;214(5):1072-7. doi:10.2214/AJR.20.22976
14. Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Zhao J, Hu Y, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet. 2020;395(10223):497-506. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5
15. Mossa-Basha M, Meltzer CC, Kim DC, Tuite MJ, Kolli KP, Tan BS. Radiology Department Preparedness for COVID-19: Radiology Scientific Expert Review Panel. Radiology. 2020;296(2):E106-12. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020200988
16. Ng MY, Lee EY, Yang J, Yang F, Li X, Wang H, et al. Imaging Profile of the COVID-19 Infection: Radiologic Findings and Literature Review. Radiol Cardiothorac Imaging. 2020;2(1):e200034. doi:10.1148/ryct.2020200034
17. Peng QY, Wang XT, Zhang LN. Findings of lung ultrasonography of novel coronavirus pneumonia during the 2019–2020 epidemic. Intensive Care Med. 2020;46(5):849-50. doi:10.1007/s00134-020-05996-6
18. Guarracino F, Vetrugno L, Forfori F, Corradi F, Orso D, Bertini P, et al. Lung, Heart, Vascular, and Diaphragm Ultrasound Examination of COVID-19 Patients: A Comprehensive Approach. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021;35(6):1866-74. doi:10.1053/j.jvca.2020.06.013
19. Taylor E, Haven K, Reed P, Bissielo A, Harvey D, McArthur C, et al. A chest radiograph scoring system in patients with severe acute respiratory infection: A validation study. BMC Med Imaging. 2015;15(1). doi:10.1186/s12880-015-0103-y
20. Wong HY, Lam HY, Fong AH, Leung ST, Chin TW, Lo CS, et al. Frequency, and Distribution of Chest Radiographic Findings in Patients Positive for COVID-19. Radiology. 2020;296(2):E72-8. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020201160
21. Warren MA, Zhao Z, Koyama T, Bastarache JA, Shaver CM, Semler MW, et al. Severity scoring of lung oedema on the chest radiograph is associated with clinical outcomes in ARDS. Thorax. 2018;73(9):840-6. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2017-211280
22. Borghesi A, Maroldi R. COVID-19 outbreak in Italy: experimental chest X-ray scoring system for quantifying and monitoring disease progression. Radiol Medica. 2020;125(5):509-13. doi:10.1007/s11547-020-01200-3
Copyright © 2024 Archives of Pharmacy Practice. Authors retain copyright of their article if they are accepted for publication.
Developed by Archives of Pharmacy Practice
