COVID-19 pneumonia: A review of typical radiological characteristics

Table 1 Adapted from Chen et al[21] chest X-ray sensitivity in coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia

Ref.	Cases	Initial RT-PCR	RT-PCR	Abnormal	Bilateral
Wong et al[13], 2020	64	Positive 58/64 (91%); Negative 6/64 (9%)	64 positive/0 negative	21/64 (33%)	32/64 (50%)
Chen et al[21], 2020	99	—	99 positive/0 negative	99/99 (100%)	74/99 (75%)
Kim et al[15], 2020	28	—	28 positive/ 0 negative	13/28 (46.4%)	6 (21.4%)
Ng et al[14], 2020	21	—	21 positive/0 negative	3/5 (60%)	2/5 (40%)

RT-PCR: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Table 2 Most common findings of chest X-rays

Main distribution
Bilateral	+++
Unilateral	+
Imaging findings
Ground-glass opacities	++++
Consolidation	+++
Reticular opacities	+++
Pneumothorax/pneumomediastinum	++
Pleural effusion	+
Lung cavitation	+

Table 3 Common ultrasound findings in coronavirus disease 2019

B pattern: Presence of multifocal and separated B-lines (“waterfall sign”) or confluent B-lines (“white lung”). The distribution is predominantly posteroinferior and bilateral, and varies depending on the severity of the disease

Patchy involvement: Pathological areas of lung parenchyma alternating with well-aerated and preserved areas

Thickening or interruption of pleural line, and reduced pleural sliding

Small subpleural consolidations in any region of the lung, more common at bases. Less frequently, larger consolidations may be found, with or without dynamic air bronchogram

Decrease in blood flow (within doppler mode) related to subpleural consolidations

Small or absent pleural effusion

Table 4 Adapted from Vetrugno et al[39] proposal of lung ultrasonography score system in coronavirus disease 2019

Class	Score	Definition
A	0 point	Normal aeration pattern. Presence of A lines, pleural sliding, and ≤ 3 well-spaced B lines
B1	1 point	More than 3 B lines per intercostal space
B2	2 points	Confluent B lines (with or without small consolidations). This pattern corresponds to the presence of GGO on chest CT scan
C	3 points	Large consolidations, parenchymal hepatization (with or without air bronchogram)

CT: Computed tomography; GGO: Ground-glass opacity.

Table 5 Chest computed tomography and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction sensitivity in coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia

Ref.	Number of patients	Symptoms	Positive RT-PCR	RT-PCR sensitivity	Chest CT abnormalities	Chest CT sensitivity
Fang et al[76], 2020	51	Fever/acute respiratory symptoms	36/51 patients	71%	50/51 patients	98%
Xie et al[48], 2020	167	Fever	162/167 patients	97%	160/167 patients	95.8%
Yang et al[77], 2020	149	Fever, cough and sputum	149/149	100%	132/149	88.6%
Ai et al[44], 2020	1014	—	601/1014	59%	888/1014	88%
Kim et al[45], 2020	7720	—	1336/1502	89%	5845/6218	94%

RT-PCR: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; CT: Computed tomography.

Table 6 Adapted from Carotti et al[57] average percentage of chest computed tomography manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019

Average percentage of chest computed tomography manifestations of coronavirus
Ground-glass opacities	66%	+++++
Ground-glass opacities + consolidation	47%	++++
Consolidation	41%	++++
Interlobular septal thickening	53%	++++
Reticular pattern	27%	++
Crazy paving pattern	20%	++
Air bronchogram sign	50%	++++
Bronchial wall thickening	17%	++
Pleural effusion	10%	+
Nodules	15%	++
Reverse halo sign	3%	+
Lymphadenopathies	8%	+
Pericardial effusion	4%	+