COVID‑19 pathology imaging: A one-year perspective

Dent Med Probl. 2021 Jul-Sep;58(3):377-384. doi: 10.17219/dmp/135814.

Abstract

The first cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) were reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Five months later, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a pandemic. The symptoms are nonspecific, and include breathing difficulties, cough, fever, and the loss of smell and taste. The diagnosis is confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Medical imaging has been mainly used to estimate the range of disease or potential complications.The aim of this study was to present the radiographic features of COVID‑19 reported in published papers. This investigation includes the scientific work concerning chest radiography (chest X-ray - CXR) and computed tomography (CT) in COVID‑19 patients. The most common pathologies are described, and the classification of COVID‑19 appearance in CT and other radiology reports is summarized. The usage of lung ultrasound (LUS) was taken into consideration. This study emphasizes the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the COVID‑19 pandemic. The algorithms developed to detect the disease are discussed. The role of medical imaging is not limited to the respiratory system; it can also be used in searching for and monitoring complications (cardiac, vascular or brain damage). Due to the significant role of radiology in the current pandemic, a review of the latest medical literature was performed to help clarify the upcoming data.

Keywords: COVID‑19; artificial intelligence; computed tomography; radiography; ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Ultrasonography