Diagnostic accuracy of thoracic imaging modalities for the detection of COVID-19

Abstract

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to present diagnostic challenges. The use of thoracic radiography has been studied as a method to improve the diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19. The ‘Living’ Cochrane Systematic Review on the diagnostic accuracy of imaging tests for COVID-19 is continuously updated as new information becomes available for study. In the most recent version, published in March 2021, a meta-analysis was done to determine the pooled sensitivity and specificity of chest X-ray (CXR) and lung ultrasound (LUS) for the diagnosis of COVID-19. CXR gave a sensitivity of 80.6% (95%CI: 69.1-88.6) and a specificity of 71.5% (95%CI: 59.8-80.8). LUS gave a sensitivity rate of 86.4% (95%CI: 72.7-93.9) and specificity of 54.6% (95%CI: 35.3-72.6). These results differed from the findings reported in the recent article in this journal where they cited the previous versions of the study in which a meta-analysis for CXR and LUS could not be performed. Additionally, the article states that COVID-19 could not be distinguished, using chest computed tomography (CT), from other respiratory diseases. However, the latest review version identifies chest CT as having a specificity of 80.0% (95%CI: 74.9-84.3), which is much higher than the previous version which indicated a specificity of 61.1% (95%CI: 42.3-77.1). Therefore, CXR, chest CT and LUS have the potential to be used in conjunction with other methods in the diagnosis of COVID-19.

The Knowledge and Perception about COVID-19 among Medical Imaging Professionals

“…Other studies' fndings display that chest computed tomography (CT) in suspected suferers is touchy; however, now no longer particular to COVID-19 prognosis, indicating that computed tomography (CT) might not be capable for diferent reasons for respiration sickness COVID-19 contamination. Te negative sense of the reference standards (RT-PCR) might also contribute to those negative specifcities, as a few times, computed tomography (CT) can be extra touchy than RT-PCR [34,35]. CXR is used more frequently than computed tomography (CT) in asymptomatic suferers, representing higher get entry to X-ray equipment.…”

Ultrasound assessment of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: a literature review for the primary care physician

“…A recent meta-analysis has demonstrated a significant higher diagnostic accuracy of LUS versus traditional chest X-ray (86.4% (95%CI: 72.7–93.9) vs 80.6% (95%CI: 69.1–88.6), respectively), confirming the importance of LUS for the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. Among all techniques, however, chest CT demonstrates the highest specificity to detect lung damage from the SARS-CoV-2 infection (80.0% (95%CI: 74.9–84.3) [ 37 , 38 ].…”