Presentation of the Serie «Radiology and COVID-19» Lessons learned from COVID-19: the radiologist's point of view

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic represents a major challenge for societies and healthcare systems. Due to the high incidence and potentially serious consequences of COVID-19, the number of scientific publications on the disease that have come out in recent months now exceeds that of any other disease in such a brief period of time. Barely six months after the term "COVID-19" was coined, a PubMed search of the MEDLINE database yields more than 40,000 results. The Editorial Board of the journal Radiología, in collaboration with various sections of the Sociedad Española de Radiología Médica [Spanish Association of Medical Radiology] (SERAM), has undertaken the initiative of publishing a number of updates on COVID-19. With the perspective afforded by the passage of time, these updates take a practical approach to various radiological aspects of the disease and the knowledge about it contained in the scientific literature, reflecting the experience of professionals from different geographic locations in Spain. We are conscious of the ongoing nature of the pandemic and its unpredictable course. Hence, we must acknowledge that some of the statements and content included in the updates may have already changed by the time they are published.

The series of updates will start with an analysis of the aspects of the pandemic that affect management in radiology departments, and will include an introduction to what is known about the virus, its pathophysiology and the mechanisms of transmission and prevention.

Next, the initial diagnostic management of patients with COVID-19 will be addressed, along with the indications and major diagnostic role played by different radiology techniques, as well as the disease's semiology.

One chapter will be devoted to ultrasound in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, describing the technique and its characteristic findings, and analysing its usefulness.

As is known, the role of imaging is not limited to the diagnosis and initial progression of the disease; it is also essential in the management of admitted patients. Therefore, one of the updates will address this topic, describing the radiological course of the disease and significant associated thoracic complications, including pulmonary thromboembolism and cardiac complications.

Despite the high prevalence of this epidemic disease, not all lung conditions are COVID-19, and so one update will be devoted to the differential diagnosis of COVID-19 and an analysis of the different lung diseases that may resemble it. Another update will consist of a review of the literature on extrathoracic signs and complications.

Finally, the clinical and radiological sequelae of COVID-19 are still among the most mysterious aspects of the disease. The final update will deal with this subject.

We hope that the work carried out by professionals from centres that have been affected differently by the disease and that will appear in future issues of Radiología, will prove useful in helping radiologists to better understand and manage COVID-19, which will continue to be in our midst for some time.