Imaging Manifestations of COVID-19

Without sufficient in vitro diagnostic tests available in the initial period of the pandemic, CT was the commonly used first-line examination for COVID-19 in China [1, 2]. However, the practice led to an unusual challenge to control infection in the CT suite. The American College of Radiology indicates that decontamination of the CT facility required after scanning COVID-19 patients may disrupt radiological services, thus recommending to use portable chest X-ray to minimize the risk of cross-infection [3]. However, chest X-ray (also called chest radiography) has lower sensitivity than CT for diagnosis of COVID-19 due to its lower density resolution; therefore, it can be used for screening possible COVID-19 but cannot replace CT for evaluation of the disease [4]. It is important for clinicians, especially radiologists, to recognize chest X-ray features of COVID-19.