CO-RADS: Coronavirus Classification Review

In mid-January of 2021, there were over 95 million diagnosed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and approximately 2 million deaths worldwide. COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization or intensive care show changes in computed tomography of the chest with improved sensitivity. Several radiology societies have attempted to standardize the reporting of pulmonary involvement by COVID-19. The COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) builds on lessons learned during the peak of the first wave of the pandemic and shows good inter-observer reliability and good performance in predicting moderate to severe disease. We illustrate the application of the CO-RADS classification with imaging from confirmed cases of COVID-19 and discuss differences to other COVID-19 classifications.

Automated summary

In mid-January 2021, there were over 95 million diagnosed COVID-19 cases and approximately 2 million deaths globally. Changes in chest computed tomography images of COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization or intensive care have shown improved sensitivity. The CO-RADS system, developed based on experiences from the first wave of the pandemic, demonstrates good observer reliability and performance in predicting moderate to severe disease.