Non-Oncological PET/CT imaging during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Hell J Nucl Med. 2020 May-Aug:23 Suppl:51-56.

Abstract

In December 2019 a new β-CoV, Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus- 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been identified in Wuhan Hubei Province, China. Within a few months it spread rapidly to more than 114 countries and the disease, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was declared pandemic on 11th February 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Until 20 June 2020 8:09 am, 8,465,085 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed globally, with 454,258 deaths. The first incidence in Greece was documented on 26 February 2020 in Thessaloniki and up to 20 June 2020 8:09 am, 3,227 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported, with 188 deaths. At the time of writing USA and Brazil, are the countries with the highest disease burden. Governments have imposed a variety of suggestions and restrictions in order to control the spread of the virus, focusing mainly on social distancing, self-isolation, personal hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE). Greece was one of the countries that implemented early drastic measures thus succeeding in controlling the virus transmission; having a profound economical effect though.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Appointments and Schedules
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission*
  • Decision Making
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods*
  • Infection Control / standards
  • Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital / organization & administration
  • Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital / standards*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission*
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / standards*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*