ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Due to the relative early lockdown in India, relative greater availability of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, and mandate to admit all positive corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, the protocol in our hospital is to perform a baseline chest X-ray (CXR) at the time of admission and for follow up. There are currently limited publications demonstrating the radiographic findings and the role of CXR of COVID-19 patients at presentation. AIMS: Evaluatethe radiographic findings on CXR in COVID-19 patients at presentation. Recommend a guideline for its judicious use. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retroprospective study performed on RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted in our hospital between March 31,2020 to May 25, 2020. The study included symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. CXR was performed for218 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Portable bedside CXR was performed. The CXRs were evaluated by three radiologists to record the findings and grade the disease. All variables were expressed as mean, ranges, counts, and percentages. RESULTS: 157 patients (72%) were symptomatic and 61 (28%) were asymptomatic. 104 CXRs (48%) were abnormal (97 in symptomatic (62%) and fourin asymptomatic (6%)). 74 patients (47%) in the symptomatic group had known comorbidities and of these, 62 (84%) had abnormal CXR. 97 CXRs (93%) had bilateral findings and 87 CXRs (84%) had peripherally predominant abnormalities. The lower zone was the most common area of involvement (73%). Ground glass opacity (GGO) was the most common finding (94%-98 CXRs). Mild disease was seen in 56 (54%). CONCLUSION: CXR can be used to assess symptomatic COVID-19 patients at presentation and to grade the severity of disease. It may be avoided in asymptomatic patients.