COVID-19 and its Mimics: What the Radiologist Needs to Know

J Thorac Imaging. 2021 Jan;36(1):W1-W10. doi: 10.1097/RTI.0000000000000554.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although imaging should not be used for first-line screening or diagnosis, radiologists need to be aware of its imaging features, and those of common conditions that may mimic COVID-19 pneumonia. In this Pictorial Essay, we review frequently encountered conditions with imaging features that overlap with those that are typical of COVID-19 (including other viral pneumonias, chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, and organizing pneumonia), and those with features that are indeterminate for COVID-19 (including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pneumocystis pneumonia, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / diagnostic imaging*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*