Early Diagnosis of COVID-19 on Non-Chest CT Studies in the Emergency Setting: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel strain of coronavirus that has spread throughout the globe causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As the number of cases rises in the United States (US), it has become more imperative to detect COVID-19 at its earliest radiologic stage to decrease community transmission. In this case series, we discuss five patients who presented with non-respiratory-related symptoms and underwent non-chest CT imaging, such as abdominal and neck CT, with a portion of the lungs visualized in each respective study. Imaging findings of COVID-19 include basilar and peripherally predominant pulmonary parenchymal ground-glass opacities. All five of our patients had findings suggestive of COVID-19 that prompted the radiologist to suggest testing for the disease. Subsequently, four of the five patients tested positive for COVID-19, and one of them was presumed to have the diagnosis based on clinical and imaging findings.