X-ray study as an alternative method for visualizing changes in lungs, with infection caused by COVID-19

Introduction. Despite the existence of generally accepted diagnostic protocols, when a new coronavirus infection is suspected, in some cases, it is increasingly difficult to detect changes in the lung tissue in a timely manner due to the heavy workload of the main method of radiation diagnostics – computed tomography.

 Purpose of the study. To determine the effectiveness of the appointment of an X-ray examination as first-line metgod, as well as to carry out a comparative analysis of the use of radiation diagnostics methods – computed tomography and radiography in relation to the diagnostic sensitivity to changes in lung tissue when a person is infected with the SARS-COV-2 virus.

Materials and methods. 150 patients (63.0 ± 8.4 years) with confirmed coronavirus infection were examined. Each of the participants underwent X-ray examination and computed tomography of the chest organs. The percentage of subjects studied for each of the degrees of severity of lung damage was determined to identify the proportion of involvement of lung tissue in the pathological process in the bulk of the examined individuals.

Results. Of the 150 patients, changes in the lung tissue during chest X-ray were detected in 97 (65%), respectively, in 53 (35%), pathological changes in the lungs were not visualized. When examining patients by computed tomography, changes in the lungs were detected in 143 patients (95%), X-ray morphological changes were not detected in 7 subjects (5%). When detecting the volume of lung damage, it turned out that the majority of the subjects – 86 people (57%) – had the degree of damage CT-2. The degree of CT-1 and CT-3 was determined in 26 (17%) and 25 (17%) patients, respectively. CT-4 was observed in 6 patients (4%), and in 5% of cases, CT was not able to detect pathological changes in the lung tissue, the degree of CT-0 was established.

Conclusion. In the assessment of viral lung damage, radiography takes a significant place, but in 35% of cases, radiographic examination failed to identify the existing pathological changes. CT of the chest organs confirms its value as the “gold standard” in the study of pulmonary pathology in coronavirus infection, but if it is impossible to perform it, radiography is recommended.

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