Coronavirus Disease -2019 (COVID-19): A Retrospective Review of Chest Radiographs in 82 Patients.

introduction On the frontlines of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, chest imaging serves as an indispensable tool in the assessment of disease severity, monitoring the disease progression as well as for treatment planning. With only a handful of reports on radiographic patterns of COVID-19 infection across the literature, we aim to describe the radiographic characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia in Malaysia.

Materials and Methods Chest radiographs (CXR) of laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patients in Hospital Tawau, Sabah were retrieved and retrospectively analyzed by two radiologists. The radiographic patterns, distribution among subgroups, and evolution of the disease over time were determined.

Results [Refer to Poster].

Conclusion COVID-19 pneumonia presented with a specific radiographic pattern, comprising of ground glass opacities in peripheral and basilar distribution, affecting a single lung field. We observed these lung changes in both symptomatic and asymptomatic group of patients, and was more frequently manifested by patients with symptoms and comorbid, and those over 60 years of age. Chest radiograph is a useful adjunct screening tool, and in combination with clinical and epidemiological assessment may facilitate in early diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.