LOW-DOSE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF PNEUMONIA CAUSED BY SARS-COV-2

Abstract

Throughout life, people are exposed to radiation from both natural sources (cosmic radiation, radionuclides), and artificial sources (man-made). Radiation exposure is a constant accompaniment to life on Earth, and its impact is so insignificant that it cannot cause noticeable disruptions to the body's vital functions. With the growing use of CT scans worldwide, the relevance of these recommendations is currently increasing. According to published data from the United Nations Committee on the Effects of Radiation, CT scans account for 5% of the world's total radiation exposure, and contribute 34% to the collective radiation dose . Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). 2000 Report to the General Assembly, Annex D: Medical Radiation Exposures. New York : United Nations , 2000. Conventional chest X-ray remains the most commonly used tool for verifying and diagnosing the subsequent evolution of lung diseases, especially in the intensive care unit. It is not always possible to draw clear parallels between the computed tomographic image and the clinical condition of a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia. Clinicians sometimes rely solely on clinical indicators, which do not always allow one to suspect a critical stage of lung tissue damage. Therefore, it is important to monitor both the dynamics of clinical indicators and the results of CT scanning. Low-dose CT (LDCT of the lungs) allows for the visualization of lung tissue in three dimensions with much greater detail than with traditional fluorography or chest X-ray. Moreover, unlike traditional chest CT, the radiation exposure during the examination is significantly lower. Computed tomography (CT) of the lungs is one of the most frequently performed examinations in modern medicine. It allows for a layered view of the lungs. Low-density CT of the lungs is successfully used for the early detection of tuberculosis and malignant tumors. This examination allows for a clear picture of the lung condition and the appropriate treatment to maximize the chance of recovery. However, in the presence of severe symptoms, the informative value of LDCT is limited to lung tissue, so a chest CT scan or a chest CT scan with contrast is prescribed to detect serious complications or even the underlying cause of the disease hidden in adjacent organs and tissues. At the same time, computed tomography has become a very popular diagnostic tool for chest pathologies. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT ) remains the most reliable and widely accepted method for diagnosing COVID -19 coronavirus infection with ground-glass opacities and community-acquired pneumonia in adults.