Purpose. To demonstrate the value of chest computed tomography (CT) in patient with severe COVID-19 viral pneumonia in choosing the optimal treatment strategy.

Materials and methods. Chest CT dynamic studies of a patient with severe bilateral polysegmental viral COVID-19 pneumonia were performed. The analysis of CT scans images series is provided.

Results. The presented clinical case demonstrates the influence of the lung CT results in choosing the optimal therapy, including the cytokine storm prevention using the interleukin-6 (IL6) receptor inhibitors. The dynamic observation of the lungs in monitoring of the intensive therapy results was performed. The changes of CT patterns depending on the disease stage and results of treatment was studied.

Conclusion. The paper shows that CT diagnostics for coronavirus COVID-19 infection helps not only in making an accurate diagnosis, but also is necessary in dynamics for monitoring the course of the disease, including helping to determine treatment tactics to prevent the development of a cytokine storm.

Keywords: COVID-19, Coronavirus infection, Interstitial infiltration, Viral pneumonia, Ground-Glass Opacity, Consolidation, Crazy-Paving Pattern, Reticular Pattern CT of the lungs, Tocilizumab.