The aim of the study was to assess radiological presentations of patients with suspected COVID-19 infection during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

200 patients with potential COVID-19 infection presenting to the emergency department were identified through the Queensland Metro North radiology server. Patients were identified by searching for key words on imaging request forms received during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Search terms included “COVID”, “coronavirus” and “fever clinic”. Emergency department documentation was reviewed to confirm the presentation was for potential COVID-19 infection. Patients were then subdivided based on COVID-19 swab results at time of presentation. The patient search was conducted from a...

Results: 13 cases are presented across Figures 1 to 15. Of the 200 sampled potential COVID-19 presentations to Metro North hospitals, 174 patients were COVID tested, with 33 patients having COVID positive swab results (19%). The age of COVID-19 positive patients ranged from 25 to 77 (mean 51). The majority of identified positive cases had a history of recent overseas travel (22/33, 66.7%). 3 of the 11 positive cases with no recent overseas travel had a known positive contact at time of presentation. 15 (45%)...

While nasopharyngeal swab PCR remains the clear diagnostic test of choice, plain chest radiograph has an important adjunct role in defining volume and intensity of disease, providing a marker for prognostication, and for follow up of disease, particularly in cases of moderate or higher severity.

Coronavirus-19 Information, Department of Health, Australian Government website. https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert?utm_source=health.gov.au&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=digital_transformation&utm_content=health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov. [Accessed July 2021] COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Case Dashboard. [accessed July 2021]. COVID-19 BSTI Reporting templates | The British Society of Thoracic Imaging, 2020. https://www.bsti.org.uk/covid-19-resources/covid-19-bsti-reporting-templates/. [accessed July 2021]. Simpson S et-al. Radiological Society of North America Expert Consensus Statement on Reporting Chest CT Findings Related to COVID-19. Endorsed by the Society of Thoracic Radiology, the American College of Radiology, and RSNA. Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging...