COVID-19 imaging: Diagnostic approaches, challenges, and evolving advances

Abstract

The role of radiology and the radiologist have evolved throughout the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Early on, chest computed tomography was used for screening and diagnosis of COVID-19; however, it is now indicated for high-risk patients, those with severe disease, or in areas where polymerase chain reaction testing is sparsely available. Chest radiography is now utilized mainly for monitoring disease progression in hospitalized patients showing signs of worsening clinical status. Additionally, many challenges at the operational level have been overcome within the field of radiology throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of teleradiology and virtual care clinics greatly enhanced our ability to socially distance and both are likely to remain important mediums for diagnostic imaging delivery and patient care. Opportunities to better utilize of imaging for detection of extrapulmonary manifestations and complications of COVID-19 disease will continue to arise as a more detailed understanding of the pathophysiology of the virus continues to be uncovered and identification of predisposing risk factors for complication development continue to be better understood. Furthermore, unidentified advancements in areas such as standardized imaging reporting, point-of-care ultrasound, and artificial intelligence offer exciting discovery pathways that will inevitably lead to improved care for patients with COVID-19.

The Artificial Intelligence in Digital Radiology: Part 1: The Challenges, Acceptance and Consensus

“…We fully agree with these studies [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. We believe that challenges and acceptance of the integration of technology must be interconnected and go hand in hand so that expectations are not disillusioned, and we can obtain Artificial Intelligence that offers us an increasingly effective and health-oriented useful approach.…”

“…A Sentiment analysis review conducted on Twitter showed an increasing attention on the integration of Artificial Intelligence in Digital Radiology [ 46 ]. Other review studies clearly showed that the pandemic represented an important engine for the development of this field [ 47 , 48 , 49 ] and an important lesson on how to continue for the future, as highlighted in the perspective reported in [ 37 ]. Other studies considered Artificial Intelligence in Digital Radiology in terms of impact to equity [ 50 ].…”

The Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Digital Radiology in the Scientific Literature: A Narrative Review of Reviews

“…A deep analysis conducted on social media highlighted a growing attention on the integration of AI in DR within the health domain [ 32 ]. Surely, the COVID-19 pandemic that people are experiencing has also represented an important push in this direction [ 37 , 38 , 39 ] and given an important lesson for the future [ 40 ]. An improvement in equity of care is also expected from the integration of AI in DR into the health domain [ 41 ].…”

Clinical portrait of a patient with COVID-19. The experience of a multidisciplinary clinic

“…Подобные отклонения могут быть связаны как с региональными различиями в типе протекания инфекции, так и с особенностями интерпретации вопросов интервьюера в телефонном опросе. Данные КТ ОГК стали важным диагностическим критерием для выявления и оценки тяжести течения COVID-19 за время эпидемии вируса SARS-CoV-2 [18]. В нашем исследовании тяжесть поражения легких по КТ значительно коррелировала с большим количеством параметров, что в дальнейшем, возможно, позволит использовать их для предварительной оценки тяжести поражения легких, своевременной госпитализации пациентов и предотвращения летальных исходов.…”