NEWS Infectious Diseases Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chest X-ray and CT Scan for COVID-19 By Rony Kampalath, MD Updated on April 01, 2022 Medically reviewed by Anju Goel, MD, MPH Share Tweet Email Print Studies from China suggest that chest radiographs (X-rays) and chest computed tomography (CT) scans can help diagnose the disease. Both can reveal abnormalities indicative of lung disease, including COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Radiology do not recommend chest X-ray or CT for the screening or diagnosis of COVID-19—or at least, they haven't done so yet. X-ray A chest X-ray (radiograph) is the most commonly ordered imaging study for patients with respiratory complaints. In a patient's early stages of COVID-19, a chest X-ray may be read as normal. In patients with severe disease, X-ray readings may resemble pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Importantly, these findings are not specific for COVID-19 and may overlap with those of other infections. Doctors cannot make a confident diagnosis of COVID-19 on the basis of chest X-ray alone. X-ray of confirmed COVID-19 patient. Courtesy of Dr. Fabio Macori, Radiopaedia.org Chest X-ray findings of COVID-19 disease include: Bilateral multifocal consolidations that may progress to involve entire lungs: The term "consolidation" refers to the filling of pulmonary airspaces with fluid or other products of inflammation. The phrase "bilateral multifocal" means that the abnormalities occur in different locations in both lungs.Small pleural effusions: This is abnormal fluid that develops in the spaces around the lungs. CT Scan Also referred to as a CAT scan, a CT scan of the chest is a specialized type of imaging study which uses X-rays to create 3D images of the chest. Chest CT is more effective than chest X-ray in the detection of early COVID-19 disease. However, up to 50% of patients may have a normal chest CT within the first two days after the onset of symptoms. Also, other types of pneumonia may mimic COVID-19 on chest CT. Nevertheless, suspicious findings on chest CT are a valuable clue (along with the clinical presentation and exposure history) that a patient may have COVID-19. Chest CTs Require Scrutiny The severity of COVID-19 varies significantly from one person to the next. Chest CT may also be used as an initial tool to assess disease severity, as well as to monitor for progression or resolution of disease. Chest CT findings of COVID-19 disease include: Multifocal ground-glass opacities and consolidations: The term "ground-glass opacity" refers to the hazy appearance of the lungs on imaging studies, almost as if sections are obscured by ground glass. It may be due to the filling of pulmonary airspaces with fluid, the collapse of the air spaces, or both.Location: Abnormalities tend to occur in the peripheral and basal areas of the lungs, more commonly in the posterior lung bases. CT scans of confirmed COVID-19 patients. Left: Courtesy of Dr. Domenico Nicoletti. Right: Courtesy of Dr. Bahman Rasuli. Radiopaedia.org. CT Scan and Swab Test The most reliable test for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is an oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, involving a throat swab or a swab of the place where the back of the nose meets the throat. In this test, a sample is collected and tested for viral RNA. There are very few false positives with this test. However, some reports have suggested a sensitivity of between 60% and 70%, meaning that there may be a significant number of infected people who actually have a negative test. Multiple tests are unlikely to be done if the first test is negative. But if a patient's condition gets worse, a second test may be done to confidently rule out infection. How Coronavirus (COVID-19) Is Diagnosed Some reports from China have suggested that, in some patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, abnormalities on chest CT may appear despite negative swab tests. This finding, combined with the initial lack of sufficient test kits, has led some medical practices to request chest CTs to screen patients for the disease. Doctors know to be cautious about this approach. They realize that chest CT may look normal in patients with early disease. Also, the CT abnormalities of COVID-19 may appear similar to those of other infections. Summary Researchers are exploring whether X-ray, CT scans, and CT scans and swab tests can help healthcare providers diagnose COVID-19. For now, the results are mixed: Doctors cannot make a confident diagnosis of COVID-19 with chest X-ray alone. The test could miss early-stage COVID-19 while producing results that resemble other conditions (like pneumonia) in more advanced cases. Chest CT is more effective than chest X-ray. But the most reliable test for an accurate diagnosis is an oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, involving a throat swab or a swab of the place where the back of the nose meets the throat. A Word From Verywell The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust an enormous responsibility on public health authorities. They must comb through the newest and most reliable data to set policies that limit mortality, curtail disease transmission, protect healthcare workers, and allow the continued function of the healthcare system. The available data changes rapidly as the scientific community learns more about COIVD-19. No one is comfortable with uncertainty. But it is best to follow the recommendations set by groups like the CDC, whose guidelines are supported by the most solid evidence available. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page. Frequently Asked Questions Can COVID be diagnosed with a chest x-ray? Chest x-rays may provide information to diagnose COVID-19. However, there has been some difficulty differentiating COVID on an X-ray from other types of pneumonia. Healthcare providers continue to look for ways to incorporate x-rays as a tool to diagnose COVID quickly. Learn More: What to Expect from a Chest X-Ray What does COVID do to your lungs? For some people, COVID causes serious lung disorders such as ARDS. Pneumonia, bronchitis, and acute respiratory distress are also associated with severe COVID. For some people, COVID can lead to sepsis. Learn More: What Is Sepsis? 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American College of Radiology. ACR recommendations for the use of chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) for suspected COVID-19 infection. Zu ZY Jiang MD, Xu PP, et al. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A perspective from China. Radiology. 2020;200490. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020200490. Kanne JP, Little BP, Chung JH, Elicker BM, Ketai LH. Essentials for radiologists on COVID-19: An update- scientific expert panel. Radiology. 2020;200527. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020200527. Nikolaou V, Massaro S, Fakhimi M, Stergioulas L, Garn W. COVID-19 diagnosis from chest x-rays: developing a simple, fast, and accurate neural network. Health Inf Sci Syst. 2021;9(1):36. doi:10.1007/s13755-021-00166-4 Johns Hopkins. COVID-19 Lung Damage. By Rony Kampalath, MD Rony Kampalath, MD, is board-certified in diagnostic radiology and previously worked as a primary care physician. He is an assistant professor at the University of California at Irvine Medical Center, where he also practices. Within the practice of radiology, he specializes in abdominal imaging. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit