Chest CT features in pediatric patients with COVID-19 infection: a brief review article

Abstract

Background: During the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, fewer children were involved compared to adults, and fewer data about the chest Computed tomography (CT) findings in children are available. Methods and materials: To perform this brief review study, the main databases of Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, Embase, and Google have been used. The keywords of “COVID-19, SARS CoV-2, clinical features, children, pediatrics, chest CT, and computed tomography” were searched. The related studies were reviewed and based on the inclusion criteria, 17 studies were finally selected and assessed by two reviewers. The kappa statistic between the two authors was 78% for selecting the articles.Results: based on the 17 evaluated studies, the most frequent abnormalities were respectively patchy shadowing, ground-glass opacities (GGOs), consolidations mostly surrounded with halo sign, and interlobular septal thickening. The lesions were commonly multiple, patchy, nodular, and bilateral; however, they could be single, local, unilateral, and dense in some cases. And, most of the lesions have been detected in the right lower lobe.Conclusion: Compared to adults infected with SARS CoV-2, the symptoms were milder and the lungs chest CT imaging indicated smaller lung involvement in pediatrics; however, the patterns of imaging changes were almost similar.