Spectrum of Chest Radiographic Findings in Indian Patients Admitted with COVID-19 Infection

Context: Even though there are many studies describing the chest radiographic features of COVID-19 pneumonia from many countries, a study describing the portable chest radiographic features of COVID-19 in Indian population is lacking. Aims: To describe the portable chest radiographic imaging spectrum in admitted Indian patients with COVID-19 infection, confirmed with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital in India. The portable radiographs of 511 patients were analysed for the presence or absence of lung opacities, characterisation of the opacities when present with regards to the type, location and other findings such as pleural effusion. Results: Out of the 511 chest x-rays analysed, 11 were excluded due to non-reportability. Consolidation was the most common finding seen in 268/500 patients (53.6%), followed by ground glass haziness which were seen in 198/500 patients (39.6%). We found bilateral and multifocal involvement in 310/500 patients (62%) which was more common than unilateral involvement 105/500 (20.8%). There was significantly higher frequency of involvement of the lower zones as compared to the upper zones. Conclusions: Our study confirms the previously reported findings from other countries that the pulmonary involvement of COVID-19 is in predominantly peripheral and lower zone distribution with consolidation or ground glass haziness being the main lung findings. Hence in the current scenario, such abnormalities found on chest radiographs of symptomatic as well as asymptomatic patients should prompt the radiologists or the treating physicians to consider the differential of COVID-19 pneumonia.