COVID-19 Image Gallery

Key points

This resource is intended as a point of reference for healthcare professionals caring for patients with proven or suspected COVID-19 lung disease
Read more here - COVID-19 discussion page. Acute COVID-19 lung disease: A pulmonary vasculopathy - not a respiratory pneumonia.

Introduction

This image gallery is intended as a reference source for healthcare professionals caring for patients with suspected or proven COVID-19 lung disease. First principles of image interpretation are highlighted in the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Find out why reference to COVID-19 lung disease as a 'pneumonia' has been removed from this gallery - COVID-19 discussion page. Acute COVID-19 lung disease: A pulmonary vasculopathy - not a respiratory pneumonia.

COVID-19 lung disease - typical pattern

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Clinical information

30-year-old male non-smoker
Presented with arthralgia and mild dry cough
Patient well enough to be discharged and instructed to self-isolate
No swab sample was taken
The diagnosis of COVID-19 was made on the basis of clinical and radiological features

COVID-19 lung disease - typical pattern

PA chest
The pattern of shadowing is typical for COVID-19 lung disease
Patchy, peripheral, bilateral and basal (mid and lower zones)
Classification: Mild (see classification page)

Chest X-ray (CXR) v Computed Tomography (CT)

CT has been used for the purpose of diagnosis in certain clinical settings - such as when swab testing is not available - but currently is not used routinely for diagnosis in most health care settings. Most patients can be managed acutely on the basis of chest X-ray findings. For this reason the plain chest X-ray is the main focus of this gallery. CT appearances are discussed briefly.

Note: Many patients do not require imaging which is usually limited for assessment of patients ill enough to be admitted to hospital. Although the diagnosis of COVID-19 remains based on rRT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) the diagnosis can be made before swab testing is positive on the basis of the combination of typical clinical and imaging features.

Disclaimer: Clinical decisions should be made on the basis of wider medical knowledge and based on local healthcare pathways. Please see our full terms and conditions before proceeding.