Ground-glass opacity (GGO): a review of the differential diagnosis in the era of COVID-19

• Published in: Japanese journal of radiology Vol. 39; no. 8; pp. 721 - 732
• Main Authors: Cozzi, Diletta, Cavigli, Edoardo, Moroni, Chiara, Smorchkova, Olga, Zantonelli, Giulia, Pradella, Silvia, Miele, Vittorio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.08.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Computed tomography; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnostic imaging; Diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic systems; Differential diagnosis; Humans; Imaging; Invited Review; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Medical diagnosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nuclear Medicine; Opacity; Patients; Radiology; Radiotherapy; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; Signs and symptoms; Thorax; Viral diseases; COVID-19; Differential diagnosis; Coronavirus; Computed tomography; Ground-glass opacity
• ISSN: 1867-1071; 1867-108X; 1867-108X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11604-021-01120-w

Thoracic imaging is fundamental in the diagnostic route of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) especially in patients admitted to hospitals. In particular, chest computed tomography (CT) has a key role in identifying the typical features of the infection. Ground-glass opacities (GGO) are one of the main CT findings, but their presence is not specific for this viral pneumonia. In fact, GGO is a radiological sign of different pathologies with both acute and subacute/chronic clinical manifestations. In the evaluation of a subject with focal or diffuse GGO, the radiologist has to know the patient’s medical history to obtain a valid diagnostic hypothesis. The authors describe the various CT appearance of GGO, related to the onset of symptoms, focusing also on the ancillary signs that can help radiologist to obtain a correct and prompt diagnosis.