Medical applications of ionising radiation for diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus-associated lung disease

The global pandemic due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus at the beginning of 2020 has had a profound effect on medicine and society. Some of the medical responses to the threat posed by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, have a relevance for radiation protection. This has led to conflicting suggestions concerning the use of ionising radiation, chiefly computed tomography (CT) to diagnose a SARS-CoV-2 infection and for follow-up of COVID-19 and radiotherapy to the lungs to treat severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Given the large number of individuals potentially affected and the potential magnitude of the ionising radiation exposures the German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) has deemed it necessary to issue a statement on these two usage scenarios from a radiological protection perspective. Following a review of the available, albeit preliminary, evidence this statement presents the advantages and disadvantages involved in the use of radiation for the diagnosis and treatment of a SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 illness, along with recommendations to ensure adherence to radiological protection conventions.