Imaging of COVID-19: An update of current evidences

Diagn Interv Imaging. 2021 Sep;102(9):493-500. doi: 10.1016/j.diii.2021.05.006. Epub 2021 May 25.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been reported as a global emergency. As respiratory dysfunction is a major clinical presentation of COVID-19, chest computed tomography (CT) plays a central role in the diagnosis and management of patients with COVID-19. Recent advances in imaging approaches using artificial intelligence have been essential as a quantification and diagnostic tool to differentiate COVID-19 from other respiratory infectious diseases. Furthermore, cardiovascular involvement in patients with COVID-19 is not negligible and may result in rapid worsening of the disease and sudden death. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging can accurately depict myocardial involvement in SARS-CoV-2 infection. This review summarizes the role of the radiology department in the management and the diagnosis of COVID-19, with a special emphasis on ultra-high-resolution CT findings, cardiovascular complications and the potential of artificial intelligence.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; COVID-19; Cardiac magnetic resonance; Computed tomography; Pulmonary embolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • COVID-19* / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Diseases* / virology
  • Humans
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed