![]() ![]() Radiological evaluation of patients with clinical–epidemiological suspect of COVID-19 is mandatory, especially in the emergency department (ED) while waiting for RT-PCR results, in order to have a rapid evaluation of thoracic involvement. ![]() However, this serologic examination has several limitations due to the high number of false-negative tests and the delayed results. Genetic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 has permitted the rapid development of real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of viral nucleic acid, and nowadays this is the diagnostic gold standard. This new coronavirus causes a highly infectious disease, commonly called Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19): Lung infection can result in severe pneumonia up to more aggressive acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Inter-reader agreement in assigning RALE score was very good (ICC: 0.92-with 95% confidence interval 0.88–0.95).Īt the end of 2019 a novel virus, named SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2), expanded globally from China with the first Italian cases dating back to February 2020. ANOVA with Games-Howell post hoc showed significant differences of RALE scores for group 1 vs 3 ( p < 0.001) and 2 vs 3 ( p = 0.001). RALE score was slightly higher in male than in female patients. ![]() The most affected patients were especially males in the age group 60–79 years old (45.95%, of which 71.57% males). Baseline CXR sensitivity in our experience is about 67.1%. Moreover, bilateral involvement (69.2%) was most frequent than unilateral one. Peripheral (57.7%) and lower zone distribution (58.5%) were the most common predominance. Patients with consolidations and GGO coexistent in the same radiography were 35.5% of total. The following alterations were more commonly observed: 135 patients with lung consolidations (57.7%), 147 (62.8%) with GGO, 55 (23.5%) with nodules and 156 (66.6%) with reticular–nodular opacities. Thirteen CXRs were negative for radiological thoracic involvement (5.6%). Patients that had a RT-PCR positive for COVID-19 infection were 234 in total: 153 males (65.4%) and 81 females (34.6%), with a mean age of 66.04 years (range 18–97 years). ![]()
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