Categorizing Chest Computed Tomography (CT) scan findings in Coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) patients

Background and Objective: SARS-COV-۲ is a single-strand RNA, β‐coronavirus, with primarily respiratory symptoms responsible for COVID-۱۹, which causes pandemics across the globe. COVID-۱۹ is a clinical manifestation of SARS-COVID-۲ infection. In the majority of cases, it will lead to respiratory syndrome with several stages from mild upper respiratory tract illness to severe cases of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia. Considering the initial involvement of the respiratory tract in COVID-۱۹, the first line in diagnosis is a Computed Tomography (CT) scan. A vast diversity of CT features are found in COVID-۱۹ cases that can even be found before clinical symptoms onset, so categorizing different radiological findings is of great importance an inaccurate diagnosis of COVID-۱۹. This study aims to analyze various radiological presentations in lung CT scan in COVID-۱۹ patients.Search Method: A comprehensive search was conducted through Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Google scholar up to January ۱۳th, ۲۰۲۱, with the following keywords: “COVID-۱۹,” “Computed Tomography,” “Chest findings.”. By omitting studies related to MERS and SARS, ۳۵ studies were included.Findings: The most prevalent CT scan presentations include Ground Glass Opacity with or without Consolidation in a posterior and lateral lobe of the lung (GGO,۶۷.۹۲% of the population), septal thickening (۶۴.۸%), Consolidation (۲۷.۷%), and Crazy-paving patterns (۶.۵%). CT scan findings are divided into four categories: Typical, Atypical, Indeterminate, and Negative results. Typical findings: Peripheral and bilateral GGO, multi-focal GGO, Reverse halo sign, Bronchial wall thickening, Nodules, and Crazy Paving Pattern.Indeterminate findings: Multiple GGOs without distinct distribution, Centric GGOs.Atypical findings: Lobar and segmental consolidations, Tree in bud pattern, pleural effusion, and cavitation.Negative findings: There are no features that imply negative findings.Conclusion: This review demonstrates the importance of recognizing radiological features in COVID-۱۹ patients for accurate diagnosis and better patient management.

کلیدواژه ها:

COVID-۱۹ ، Computed Tomography ، Chest findings ، Ground Glass Opacity