Best Practice: International Multisociety Consensus Statement for Post-COVID-19 Residual Abnormalities on Chest CT Scans

Abstract

Residual lung abnormalities on CT scans after COVID-19 respiratory infection may be associated with persistent or progressive respiratory symptoms and frequently correlate with abnormal pulmonary function testing results. These abnormalities have been described using varying terms in numerous publications. Chest CT lung abnormalities after COVID-19 infection tend to stabilize or regress over time, indicating that they are nonprogressive and postinfectious in nature. This multisociety consensus statement, developed by 21 thoracic radiologists from the European Society of Thoracic Imaging, the Society of Thoracic Radiology, and the Asian Society of Thoracic Radiology with a two-round survey process, aims to standardize the indication, acquisition, and reporting of post-COVID-19 residual lung abnormalities on CT scans. Key recommendations include performing chest CT in patients with persistent or progressive respiratory symptoms 3 months after infection, using low-dose CT protocols (range, 1-3 mSv) for follow-up chest CT examinations, using Fleischner Society glossary of terms for radiologic descriptors, and avoiding the term interstitial lung abnormality to describe post-COVID-19 abnormalities. Instead, to prevent misinterpreting post-COVID-19 abnormalities as an early manifestation of interstitial lung disease, use the term post-COVID-19 residual lung abnormality. This consensus statement will help harmonize radiology practice and research for the substantial number of affected patients.