Cited by 229COVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesCOVID-19 diagnosis using AILong-Term Effects of COVID-19

CT in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a systematic review of chest CT findings in 4410 adult patients

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Ojha, Vineeta, Mani, Avinash, Pandey, Niraj Nirmal, Sharma, Sanjiv, Kumar, Sanjeev·2020·European Radiology

Abstract

Objective The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the key imaging manifestations of COVID-19 on chest CT in adult patients by providing a comprehensive review of the published literature.Methods We performed a systematic literature search from the PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and WHO databases for studies mentioning the chest CT imaging findings of adult COVID-19 patients.Results A total of 45 studies comprising 4410 patients were included. Ground glass opacities (GGO), in isolation (50.2%) or coexisting with consolidations (44.2%), were the most common lesions. Distribution of GGOs was most commonly bilateral, peripheral/subpleural, and posterior with predilection for lower lobes. Common ancillary findings included pulmonary vascular enlargement (64%), intralobular septal thickening (60%), adjacent pleural thickening (41.7%), air bronchograms (41.2%), subpleural lines, crazy paving, bronchus distortion, bronchiectasis, and interlobular septal thickening. CT in early follow-up period generally showed an increase in size, number, and density of GGOs, with progression into mixed areas of GGOs plus consolidations and crazy paving, peaking at 10-11 days, before gradually resolving or persisting as patchy fibrosis. While younger adults more commonly had GGOs, extensive/multilobar involvement with consolidations was prevalent in the older population and those with severe disease.Conclusion This review describes the imaging features for diagnosis, stratification, and follow-up of COVID-19 patients. The most common CT manifestations are bilateral, peripheral/subpleural, posterior GGOs with or without consolidations with a lower lobe predominance. It is pertinent to be familiar with the various imaging findings to positively impact the management of these patients.Key points • Ground glass opacities (GGOs), whether isolated or coexisting with consolidations, in bilateral and subpleural distribution, are the most prevalent chest CT findings in adult COVID-19 patients. • Follow-up CT shows a progression of GGOs into a mixed pattern, reaching a peak at 10-11 days, before gradually resolving or persisting as patchy fibrosis. • Younger people tend to have more GGOs. Older or sicker people tend to have more extensive involvement with consolidations.

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Authors
Ojha, V., Mani, A., Pandey, N. N., Sharma, S., & Kumar, S.
Affiliations
  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences (IN)
  • Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (IN)
Corresponding author
Kumar, Sanjeev
Venue
European Radiology
Published
2020-05-30
Volume
30
Issue
11
Pages
6129-6138
ISSN
  • 0938-7994 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-1084
OpenAlex
W3030243311
Cited by
227
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 87 · 2020: 28
FWCI
2.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • European Radiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, chest CT findings, ground-glass opacities, lung consolidation, crazy-paving pattern, pulmonary fibrosis, disease severity, age differences, follow-up imaging, interlobular septal thickening
MeSH terms
Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adult, Female, Humans, Lung, Male, Middle Aged, Pneumonia, Viral, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Coronavirus Infections, Disease Progression, Young Adult, Pandemics

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