Mohamed Zakaria B^*, Badreeddine A, Youssef AL and Mustapha M
^*Correspondence: Mohamed Zakaria B, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Center, Morocco, Email:

Published: 28-Sep-2021

Abstract

The chest CT plays a primary role in the early detection of COVID-19 pneumonia; however the diagnosis is essentially based on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). This is allowing the inexperienced radiologist, during this global COVID pandemic, to keep in mind a list of differential diagnosis that can mimic COVID pneumonia on CT. We retrospectively reviewed the initial chest CT data of 158 suspected SARS Cov 2 patients admitted in Hassan II University Hospital center of Fez (Morocco), from March 16, 2020, to May 25, 2020, with two consecutive negative tests at admission and five days after.

Keywords

COVID-19; Diagnosis; Ground glass opacity; Differential diagnosis; Mimics

Introduction

The World Health Organization has declared on March 11, 2020, that Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic and public health emergency of international concern.¹ Early identification and proper management of patients with COVID-19 are very important. As of May 25th, 2020, more than five million individuals have contracted the virus worldwide with more than 350.000 reported deaths, including 7500 confirmed cases in Morocco.²

The standard of reference for confirming COVID-19 relies on microbiological tests such as Reserve Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or sequencing. However, these tests might not be accessible in an emergency setting and their results are not immediately available. Computed tomography (CT) can be used as an important complement to RT-PCR for diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia in the current epidemic context.^3-5 Features in chest computed tomography (CT) can facilitate identifying newly infected individuals. However, CT findings of some lung diseases are similar to those of COVID-19, as shown in this present article. Several studies have demonstrated that chest CT characteristics can facilitate identifying newly infected cases of COVID-19.^6,7 CT features of COVID-19 are diverse, including pure or mixed GGOs with a patchy to confluent or nodular shape, consolidations, and crazy-paving appearance. These features can be located in the central or peripheral areas of the posterior lungs, with peripheral lesions dominating their distribution. Current pandemic is making out subtle radiological differences between COVID-19 and pneumonia of other etiology.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the initial chest CT data of 158 suspected SARS Cov 2 patients admitted to Hassan II University hospital center of Fez, from March 16, 2020, to May 25, 2020 were included. All patients were imaged with 1 mm thick slices, with a Light Speed scanner (GE Medical Systems). All scans were obtained with the patient in the supine position during end-inspiration without intravenous contrast material for 97 patients and with intravenous administration of iodinated contrast material for 61 patients. All patients were negative for 2019-n Cov at laboratory testing of respiratory secretions obtained by means of nasopharyngeal swab, or oropharyngeal swab, on two consecutive direct tests at admission and after five days. Patient selection for this study is detailed in (Table 1) and no exclusion criteria were applied. Two radiologists in consensus with 5 and 10 years of thoracic imaging experience evaluated the images.

Discussion

Typical imaging features of Covid-19

A wide variety of CT findings in COVID-19 have been reported in the different studies.^3,6 However, all studies indicate that the main CT feature of COVID-19 pneumonia is the presence of ground glass opacities (GGO), typically with a peripheral and sub pleural distribution (Figure 1A). The involvement of multiple lobes, particularly the lower lobes is reported in the majority of patients with COVID-19.

These areas of GGO may be admixed with areas of focal consolidation and or associated with superimposed intralobular reticulations, resulting in a crazy paving pattern (Figure 1B). Linear consolidations and other signs suggesting organizing pneumonia such as the reverse halo sign (i.e., areas of ground glass surrounded by peripheral consolidation) are very frequently observed, mostly in patients several days after the onset of disease.³

Non Covid ground glass opacities

GGO is a non-specific term referring to a hazy increase in lung opacity that is not associated with obscuration of underlying vessels. This finding can reflect the presence of a number of diseases and can be seen in patients with either minimal interstitial thickening or air-space disease. Although GGO is a nonspecific finding its presence is very significant. As with consolidation, the differential diagnosis is based primarily on the duration of symptoms. In patients with acute symptoms, the presence of GGO reflects active disease such as viral pneumonias (Figure 2), pulmonary edema (Figure 3), or hemorrhage, diffuse alveolar damage, pulmonary vasculitis (Figure 4), lung contusion (Figure 5), acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP), and acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis.⁸

Non Covid focal patchy consolidation

Focal patchy consolidation is typical of pneumonias, or endobronchial spread of tumor such as mucinous carcinoma (w). CT may show a pattern of lobular consolidation. Centrilobular nodules are seen in some cases. Patchy consolidation is frequently seen in viral or bacterial bronchopneumonia (Figure 6). Bacterial Pneumonias are associated with this pattern (e.g., Staphylococcus, Haemophilus, and Pseudomonas). Infected secretions are typically present within the bronchi. Mycoplasma pneumonia often results in this pattern.⁸

Non Covid peripheral or subplaural consolidation

Peripheral or subpleural consolidation is seen adjacent to the chest wall, with sparing of the peri hilar regions. It is most often seen in patients with a chronic lung disease. It is also classically associated with eosinophilic lung diseases, particularly eosinophilic pneumonia, but may also occur with sarcoidosis (Figure 7), organizing pneumonia (Figure 8), lung contusion (Figure 9), radiation pneumonitis, or mucinous adenocarcinoma (Figure 10).

Non Covid diffuse patchy consolidation

Diffuse patchy consolidation may be seen with any pneumonia (bacterial, mycobacterial, fungal, viral). Even in pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary hemorrhage syndromes, inhalational diseases, eosinophilic diseases, and invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma. The patchy opacities may correspond to consolidation of lobules, sub segments, or segments.

Non Covid crazy paving appearance

The combination of GGO and interlobular septal thickening is termed crazy paving. This appearance is nonspecific and may be seen with a variety of acute lung diseases such as pneumocystis or viral pneumonia, edema, hemorrhage, and acute lung injury. Among patients with chronic lung disease, it is a classic finding for PAP, although it may be seen in any chronic infiltrative lung disease characterized by GGO (Figure 11).

Non Covid reserve halo sign

A finding termed the reversed-halo sign or atoll sign, in which ring-shaped or crescentic opacities are seen, often with GGO in the center of the ring (resembling the opposite of the halo sign), may be seen with organizing pneumonia (Figure 12) or angioinvasive aseprgillosis.⁹

Conclusion

When faced with a suspected case of COVID-19, radiologists should analyze the exposure history, clinical manifestations, CT findings, and laboratory test results. Because, lot of pulmonary pathologies can appear with the same typical features of COVID-19 in CT scan and to properly categorize the situation if the initial RT-PCR test results are negative, radiologist must be careful before making the final diagnosis.

Conflict of Interest

None

Acknowledgment

None

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