SDCA Journal of Radiologic Technology

Abstract

The clinical presentation of COVID-19 is the gold standard for diagnosis, with viral presence confirmed by a positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR). Diagnostic imaging modalities in the radiology department is one of the advance medical diagnostic procedures that helps to determine the severity of COVID cases. The most involved are chest x-rays and CT-scan but in this study other imaging modality, which is the ultrasound, will also be discussed and related to the successful diagnosis and confirmation of the severity of the disease. A total of 58 patients had first positive RT-PCR results, and 44 of them had abnormal baseline chest radiography findings, implying that the chest x-ray had a 69 percent sensitivity for COVID-19 detection. CT has a sensitivity of 98 percent for COVID-19 identification in a group of 51 patients who had a chest CT. Three hundred and sixty-two (362) patients were undergone lung ultrasound which shows a 93.4%-97.7% sensitivity. All imaging modalities are proven to have a useful tool to detect the COVID cases. X-ray machines can be used to conduct an initial assessment of the treatment plan while ultrasound can also be use as alternative modality for the management of positive cases due to its portability, low cost, safety in terms of radiation exposure and wide availability. CT scan is the gold standard for sensitivity of finding the severity of the diseases. However, the choice of these modalities should be based on different factors and current situation of the patient.

Keywords: Diagnostic imaging modalities, Covid-19, CT scan, chest x-rays.