Chest radiographs in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Mohana Letchumanan; Adi Afiq Bin Md Anour; Shubash Shander Ganapathy; Syaman Harry; Nik Shah Hizan Binti Nik Lah; Norlimah Binti Arsad; Nur Farhana Binti Ahmad Fisol

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Chest radiographs in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Author: Mohana Letchumanan ¹ ; Adi Afiq Bin Md Anour ¹ ; Shubash Shander Ganapathy ² ; Syaman Harry ¹ ; Nik Shah Hizan Binti Nik Lah ¹ ; Norlimah Binti Arsad ^{3
,

4} ; Nur Farhana Binti Ahmad Fisol, ⁵
Author Information

1. Department of Radiology, Tawau General Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sabah, Malaysia
2. Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
3. Director&rsquo
4. s Office, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sabah, Malaysia
5. Clinical Research Center, Tawau Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sabah, Malaysia
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: COVID-19; Malaysia; chest radiograph; computed tomography
From: The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2021;76(2):131-137
CountryMalaysia
Language:English
Abstract: Objectives: To recognize the radiographic patterns of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: Chest radiographs of patients confirmed with COVID-19 in Hospital Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia were retrospectively analyzed by two radiologists. The radiographic pattern, distribution among subgroups and evolution of the disease over time were determined. Results: Among the 82 patients studied, 65 (79.3%) were males. Mean age of our cohorts was 37 ± 15 years. Baseline chest radiographs were abnormal in 37 patients (45.1%). Over half (52.9%) of the symptomatic patients had abnormal baseline radiograph. Among the children, patients with comorbidities, and patients 60 years of age and above, the abnormal radiographs were 14.3%, 71.4% and 69.3% respectively. Ground glass opacities were the commonest abnormal radiographic feature (35.4%), were peripherally located (35.4%) with predilection for the lower zones (29.3%). Most radiographic abnormalities were multifocal (20.7%) and frequently located in the left lung (19.5%). Radiographic recovery was observed in 15 of 18 patients (83%). Computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated greater extent of the disease than observed in radiographs of the same patient. Conclusions: COVID-19 pneumonia presented with a specific radiographic pattern in our cohort of patients, comprising of ground glass opacities in peripheral and basilar distribution, affecting a single lung field and was observed in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Chest radiograph is a useful adjunct screening tool, and in combination with clinical and epidemiological assessment may facilitate in early diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.