COVID-19: Typical imaging findings in a RT-PCR confirmed symptomatic patient

ABSTRACT

A case of a 63-year-old female with COVID-19 pneumonia is presented, admitted at the emergency department with lower respiratory tract infection symptoms and a positive real-time RT-PCR test result. Even though the RT-PCR (real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) test is by now the only diagnostic method with 100% specificity for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, the available scientific data clearly indicates about the important role of medical imaging procedures in the diagnostic process, in the follow-up of the disease and in the evaluation of potential long-term complications. Currently numerous studies have been published, describing the characteristic imaging findings and define criteria for the radiological suspicion. In the presented case, the imaging pattern of parenchymal lung disease, observed on the performed conventional radiography and chest CT, complies with the typical for COVID-19 pneumonia radiological signs, according to the up-to-date guidelines.