Radiological aspects in patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection – a literature review

Abstract

Currently, SARS-CoV-2 infection has affected the entire population of the globe, registering an alarming increase in the number of cases, but also in deaths. The main clinical expression of COVID-19 is pneumonia, for its evaluation being necessary an imaging characterization of lung lesions both by chest radiography and by computed tomography (CT) of the chest. Various studies performed on groups of patients revealed that CT examination is more accurately in diagnosing lung lesions at the onset of symptoms, but also before it. The most common lesions were multiple, bilateral, peripheral, in the lower lung fields. The appearance often varies between alveolar consolidation and groundglass. Also, the data from the relevant studies emphasize the possibility of the existence of early pathological aspects on CT acquisitions, which do not involve clinical expression. Thus, it can be stated that both investigations are crucial in assessing the impact of the new coronavirus infection on the lung parenchyma, but also in guiding therapeutic management.

Keywords

• sars-cov-2 infection
• radiological aspects
• computed tomography