Chest CT findings in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a comprehensive review

• Published in: Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) Turkey), 2021-09, Vol.27 (5), p.621-632
• Main Authors: Li, Jinkui, Yan, Ruifeng, Zhai, Yanan, Qi, Xiaolong, Lei, Junqiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chest; Chest Imaging; COVID-19; CT imaging; Diagnostic imaging; Humans; Lung; Medical examination; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; Thorax; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 1305-3825; 1305-3612
• DOI: 10.5152/dir.2020.20212

The objective of this review was to summarize the most pertinent CT imaging findings in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A literature search retrieved eligible studies in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science up to June 1, 2020. A comprehensive review of publications of the Chinese Medical Association about COVID-19 was also performed. A total of 84 articles with more than 5340 participants were included and reviewed. Chest CT comprised 92.61% of abnormal CT findings overall. Compared with real-time polymerase chain reaction result, CT findings has a sensitivity of 96.14% but a low specificity of 40.48% in diagnosing COVID-19. Ground glass opacity (GGO), pure (57.31%) or mixed with consolidation (41.51%) were the most common CT features with a majority of bilateral (80.32%) and peripheral (66.21%) lung involvement. The opacity might associate with other imaging features, including air bronchogram (41.07%), vascular enlargement (54.33%), bronchial wall thickening (19.12%), crazy-paving pattern (27.55%), interlobular septal thickening (42.48%), halo sign (25.48%), reverse halo sign (12.29%), bronchiectasis (32.44%), and pulmonary fibrosis (26.22%). Other accompanying signs including pleural effusion, lymphadenopathy and pericardial effusion were rare, but pleural thickening was common. The younger or early stage patients tended to have more GGOs, while extensive/multilobar involvement with consolidation was prevalent in the older or severe population. Children with COVID-19 showed significantly lower incidences of some ancillary findings than those of adults and showed a better performance on CT during follow up. Follow-up CT showed GGO lesions gradually decreased, and the consolidation lesions first increased and then remained relatively stable at 6-13 days, and then absorbed and fibrosis increased after 14 days. Chest CT imaging is an important component in the diagnosis, staging, disease progression and follow-up of patients with COVID-19.