Role of Chest Imaging in Viral Lung Diseases

• Main Authors: Diletta Cozzi, Eleonora Bicci, Alessandra Bindi, Edoardo Cavigli, Ginevra Danti, Michele Galluzzo, Vincenza Granata, Silvia Pradella, Margherita Trinci, Vittorio Miele
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: coronavirus; COVID-19; viral pneumonia; computed tomography; differential diagnosis
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6434

The infection caused by novel beta-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. However, in the last 20 years, this has not been the only viral infection to cause respiratory tract infections leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide, referring in particular to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), influenza H1N1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Although in this pandemic period SARS-CoV-2 infection should be the first diagnosis to exclude, many other viruses can cause pulmonary manifestations and have to be recognized. Through the description of the main radiological patterns, radiologists can suggest the diagnosis of viral pneumonia, also combining information from clinical and laboratory data.