COVID-19 and its Mimics

Sameer H. Hanfi, Tasneem Lalani, Amina Saghir, Lacey McIntosh, Hao S. Lo, Hemang M. Kotecha

2020Journal of Thoracic Imaging24 citationsDOI

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).

Topics & Concepts

MedicineCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Eosinophilic pneumoniaPneumoniaViral pneumoniaPulmonary alveolar proteinosisDiffuse alveolar damageHypersensitivity pneumonitisSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)CoronavirusPneumonitis2019-20 coronavirus outbreakPandemicPathologyOutbreakRespiratory diseaseIntensive care medicineLungDiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)Internal medicineAcute respiratory distressCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesRespiratory viral infections researchPneumonia and Respiratory Infections