Published online Mar 09, 2021.
https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2020.1356
Chest X-Ray for Follow-Up of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Settings with Limited Access to Computed Tomography
Dear Editor,
We have read with great interest, the recent article published in Korean Journal of Radiology titled “Characteristics of COVID-19 patients who progress to pneumonia on follow-up chest radiograph: 236 patients from a single isolated cohort in Daegu” [1]. The authors observed that 35% (59/167) of their patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and initially classified as negative for pneumonia on chest X-ray (CXR) showed a positive conversion at follow-up [1]. Additionally, they identified that age ≥ 45 years (odds ratio [OR]: 3.93, 95% conflicts of interest [CI]: 1.76–8.75, p = 0.001), absolute lymphocyte count < 1500 cells/µL (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.03–4.89, p = 0.041), and C-reactive protein > 0.5 mg/dL (OR: 3.91, 95% CI: 1.54–9.91, p = 0.004) were independent factors related to this conversion [1].
We are aware of various imaging studies used to monitor response treatment because it can reveal the evolution of lung involvement and, therefore, evaluate therapeutic interventions' efficacy [2]. Consequently, in June 2020, WHO published a quick guide for the use of chest imaging in COVID-19, where it recommended its use to indicate therapeutic management in hospitalized patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 [3].
However, not all countries have the availability of sophisticated studies, such as in South Korea, where alternative imaging modalities may be chosen. For example, in Peru, 90% of reference hospitals had CXR, and only 42% had computed tomography (CT) [4]. Given this scarcity, we must know the benefits and limitations of each study, mainly due to its applicability in limited CT access contexts.
CXR is a suitable alternative because it has essential advantages such as lower cost and radiation, requires fewer human resources, and minimizes the mobilization of hospitalized patients [5]. Likewise, its portable version shows a particular application by reducing the risk of transmission and the need for constant disinfection of procedure rooms, significantly allowing sequential evaluation [6].
In conclusion, although there is still uncertainty about the usefulness of CXR, it could be used for the individualized follow-up of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in settings with limited access to CT because it identifies a significant proportion of positive conversions to COVID-19 pneumonia [1].
Conflicts of Interest:The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.
Author Contributions:
Conceptualization: all authors.
Methodology: Victor Velásquez-Rimachi.
Project administration: Sandra S. Chavez-Malpartida.
Resources: Luis Campos-Ramirez.
Supervision: Luis Campos-Ramirez.
Writing—original draft: Sandra S. Chavez-Malpartida, Randy Velasquez-Fernandez.
Writing—review & editing: Victor Velásquez-Rimachi, Luis Campos-Ramirez.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the midwife Elkie Johanna Henrica Renders for her support in verifying the English language.
References
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del Pueblo D. In: El derecho a la salud: los servicios de emergencia en los establecimientos de salud públicos y el acceso a medicamentosesenciales. Lima, Perú: 2016.
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Korean J Radiol. 2021 May;22(5):864-866. > Response |
| Korean J Radiol. 2021 May;22(5):. |
| Copyright © 2021 The Korean Society of Radiology |
| Response: Chest X-Ray for Follow-Up of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Settings with Limited Access to Computed Tomography | |
Ha Kyung Jung
and Jin Young Kim
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| Department of Radiology, Dongsan Hospital, Keimyung University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. | |
Corresponding author: Jin Young Kim, MD, Department of Radiology, Dongsan Hospital, Keimyung University College of Medicine, 1035 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-gu, Daegu 42601, Korea.
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To the Editor,
Firstly, we would like to thank you for your thoughtful comments on our article titled “Characteristics of COVID-19 patients who progress to pneumonia on follow-up chest radiograph: 236 patients from a single isolated cohort in Daegu” published in the Korean Journal of Radiology [1]. We investigated the prevalence of COVID-19 pneumonia using chest radiographs and concluded that elderly patients (≥ 45 years old) with abnormal laboratory findings (elevated C-reactive protein and low absolute lymphocyte counts) developed pneumonia on follow-up chest radiographs.
Even though it has already been confirmed in many published studies that computed tomography (CT) is more sensitive for pneumonia detection than chest radiograph, as you described, chest radiograph is the mainstay of imaging modality in resource-constrained environment [2, 3, 4]. Compared with CT, several advantages including portable usage, lower cost, and faster application advocate the use of chest radiograph [2]. In particular, the rapid spread of COVID-19 is emphasizing the importance of timely determination of the therapeutic plan and hospitalization through adequate use of chest imaging [5]. In further data collection conducted at our hospital, there were 60 patients whose chest radiographs were normal, but pneumonia was detected on chest CT. However, none of them had progressed to severe disease requiring oxygen treatment or intensive unit care. We assume that only CT visible pneumonia may not lead to clinical deterioration and monitoring the extent of pneumonia using chest radiograph may be sufficient when CT is unavailable. Although chest radiograph may underestimate pneumonia compared to CT, we agree that it can be an alternative imaging tool for investigating and monitoring pneumonia in COVID-19 patients, especially in a medical resource-constrained environment. We believe that your comments have enriched our study and we sincerely appreciate your interest.
