Chest x-ray Findings in the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Covid-19 Patients - A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Aim: To assess the main radiological feature of chest radiography for diagnosis and evaluation of COVID-19 patients. Methodology: A literature search was performed with the use of search engines. The following search engines provided us articles for this systematic review from until 27 February 2021 PubMed, NCBI, Medline, Medscape, and Google Scholar. We included only those articles in which CXR was performed on infected patients for the detection and evaluation of COVID-19. Results: out of eighty (80) articles, only twelve (12) were included in this review to assess the main radiological feature of chest radiography of COVID-19 patients. Patients who went for chest x-ray have shown following radiographic features with pooled percentages as mentioned GGO 32.38%, consolidation 35.15%, vascular congestion sign 7.92%, nodules 33.57% whereas pleural effusion accounts 19.36%, pneumothorax 18.55%, and lymphadenopathy was noted on 1.96%. Pooled Percentages of radiographic features of COVID-19 patients in right lung, left lung or both affected lungs were 21.32%, 5.77% and 47.78% respectively. This calculation is showing B/L lung involvement is more dominant as compare to right and left lung independently. Conclusion: Chest radiograph can be helpful modality in the diagnosis, evaluation and follow-up of SARS- CoV 2 pneumonia patients. Consolidation, GGO with peripheral distribution of lesion and bilateral pneumonia are most common findings of COVID-19 on chest X-ray. Chest x-ray are the baseline/first line approach for COVID-19 as it is easily available. Moreover, in late stages multiple radiological findings are quite helpful.