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01-12-2020 | Computed Tomography | Computed Tomography

Chest CT practice and protocols for COVID-19 from radiation dose management perspective

Authors: Mannudeep K. Kalra, Fatemeh Homayounieh, Chiara Arru, Ola Holmberg, Jenia Vassileva

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 12/2020

Abstract

The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has upended the world with over 6.6 million infections and over 391,000 deaths worldwide. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay is the preferred method of diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. Yet, chest CT is often used in patients with known or suspected COVID-19 due to regional preferences, lack of availability of PCR assays, and false-negative PCR assays, as well as for monitoring of disease progression, complications, and treatment response. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organized a webinar to discuss CT practice and protocol optimization from a radiation protection perspective on April 9, 2020, and surveyed participants from five continents. We review important aspects of CT in COVID-19 infection from the justification of its use to specific scan protocols for optimizing radiation dose and diagnostic information.

Key Points

• Chest CT provides useful information in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

• When indicated, chest CT in most patients with COVID-19 pneumonia must be performed with non-contrast, low-dose protocol.

• Although chest CT has high sensitivity for diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia, CT findings are non-specific and overlap with other viral infections including influenza and H1N1.

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Title: Chest CT practice and protocols for COVID-19 from radiation dose management perspective
Authors: Mannudeep K. Kalra
Fatemeh Homayounieh
Chiara Arru
Ola Holmberg
Jenia Vassileva
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Computed Tomography
Computed Tomography
Pneumonia
COVID-19
Radiation Protection
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 12/2020
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-020-07034-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Chest CT practice and protocols for COVID-19 from radiation dose management perspective

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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