Skip to main content
Insights into Imaging

Table 1 Radiological findings in COVID-19 pneumonia

From: Differential diagnoses of COVID-19 pneumonia: the current challenge for the radiologist—a pictorial essay

Stage

Phase

Timing (days)

Predominant radiological findings

Additional findings

Spatial distribution of radiological findings

1

Early

0–4

Ground-glass opacities

Peripheral vessel widening

Halo sign

Atoll sign or reversed halo sign

Overlapping of radiological findings in different phases

Rarity of: lymphadenopathies, pleuric effusions, pulmonary nodules

Bilateral

Peripheral/subpleural

Centroparenchymal (atypical)

Lower lobes prevalence

2

Progressive

5–8

Crazy paving pattern, ground-glass opacities and small consolidations

3

Peak

9–13

Consolidative foci

4

Absorption

 ≥ 14

Ground-glass opacities and linear consolidation

  1. COVID-19 pneumonia has been divided into four stages, according to Feng Pan [12], depending on the timing of typical radiological findings occurrence. Spatial distribution of radiological findings and additional findings is of primary importance to reach a correct diagnosis [12, 14, 15]
Back to article page