Cardiovascular Imaging in COVID-19Keywords
Cardiovascular Diseases; Lung Diseases; Coronavirus; COVID-19; Pandemics; Diagnostic Imaging; Asymptomatic Patients
Palavras-chave:
Doenças Cardiovasculares; Pneumopatias; Coronavírus; COVID-19; Pandemia; Diagnóstico por Imagem; Pacientes Assimtomáticos
Keywords
Cardiovascular Diseases; Lung Diseases; Coronavirus; COVID-19; Pandemics; Diagnostic Imaging; Asymptomatic Patients
Palavras-chave:
Doenças Cardiovasculares; Pneumopatias; Coronavírus; COVID-19; Pandemia; Diagnóstico por Imagem; Pacientes Assimtomáticos
Dear Editor,
We would like to share ideas on the publication “Cardiovascular Imaging in Patients with COVID-19.”1 Grossman and Lima concluded that “nuclear cardiologists and nuclear medicine physicians must be aware of incidental findings in asymptomatic patients with COVID-19, and they should optimize MPI protocols, when the procedure is necessary.”1 The results in this study are concordant with a previous report from Asia.2 Imaging can help identify both heart and lung problems that might asymptomatically occur due to COVID-19 or a previous silent pathology.2 An important point is the differential diagnosis of the new lesion and the previous underlying pathology. In tropical countries, there might be a common pathology, such as tuberculosis, that results in difficulty in interpreting new heart and lung problems due to COVID-19.3 Since image interpretation depends mainly on the radiologist, it is necessary for radiologists to increase awareness and concern when interpreting clinical images during the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
- 1 Grossman GB, Lima RL. Cardiovascular Imaging in Patients with COVID-19. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020 Nov;115(5):973-4.
- 2 Attavirayanuparuktham B. Abnormal heart imaging in COVID-19 patients: a note. Adv Lab Med Int. 2020;10:18-9.
- 3 Yasri S, Wiwanitkit V. Tuberculosis and novel Wuhan coronavirus infection: Pathological interrelationship. Indian J Tuberc. 2020 Apr;67(2):264.
