These CT Images Lead to Diagnosis of One of the First COVID-19 Patients in the U.S.

The video below includes images from the actual CT study of a COVID-19 patient in the United States. As this disease spreads rapidly worldwide, chest CTs are emerging as a critical diagnostic tool for this infection. The likelihood is high that more radiologists will be called upon for similar studies. Please share this case with your colleagues.

The CDC has declared a public health emergency in response to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and the disease it causes, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In late February 2020, vRad received one of the earliest chest CTs performed in the United States for COVID-19 infection. That diagnosis was confirmed by laboratory analysis and the patient was promptly admitted and quarantined to prevent further spread.

The entire medical team deserves credit for a quick and appropriate response. The ER doctor suspected a coronavirus infection. This was included in the clinical history submitted through the vRad order management system, which alerted our teleradiologist to the possibility. The radiologist accurately read and interpreted the CT scan and reported findings consistent with a severe acute respiratory viral infection. Subsequently, the patient was tested for coronavirus, which came back positive.

vRad radiologist Greg Klisch is credited with the accurate chest CT interpretation that enabled the COVID-19 diagnosis. vRad radiologist Katie Lozano assisted with the case research cited in the COVID-19 Update video.

Go to our COVID-19 Resources Page