Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: What the Department of Radiology Should Know

Abstract

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia emerged in Wuhan, China. Since then, this highly contagious COVID-19 has been spreading worldwide, with a rapid rise in the number of deaths. Novel COVID-19-infected pneumonia (NCIP) is characterized by fever, fatigue, dry cough, and dyspnea. A variety of chest imaging features have been reported, similar to those found in other types of coronavirus syndromes. The purpose of the present review is to briefly discuss the known epidemiology and the imaging findings of coronavirus syndromes, with a focus on the reported imaging findings of NCIP. Moreover, the authors review precautions and safety measures for radiology department personnel to manage patients with known or suspected NCIP. Implementation of a robust plan in the radiology department is required to prevent further transmission of the virus to patients and department staff members.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; infection control; pneumonia; safety.

Graphical abstract

Fig 1

Chest CT scan from a 50-year-old male Chinese patient with a confirmed diagnosis of novel COVID-19-infected pneumonia. The patient presented with low-grade fever, cough, sneezing, fatigue, and lymphopenia. Multiple peripheral ground-glass opacities are present in both lungs (predominant on the right side), with a subpleural distribution. Imaging findings are nonspecific and might be seen with other viral pneumonias as well. Images are courtesy of Min Liu, MD, Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital (Beijing, China).

Fig 2

Chest CT scan of a 50-year-old Iranian man with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. The patient presented with low-grade fever, cough, respiratory distress, and confusion. Extensive subpleural and peripheral multifocal areas of consolidation (A, B) are seen in both lungs, predominantly in lower lobes.

Fig 3

Chest CT scan of a 48-year-old woman with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. The patient presented with fever and cough. Small ill-defined subpleural and peripheral areas of consolidation (A, B) are noted in both lungs which are nonspecific in this patient with COVID-19 pneumonia.