CT follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia in patients requiring hospitalization in the acute phase of the disease

OBJECTIVE: There are studies discussing the lung CT abnormalities persisting 3-4 months after COVID-19 pneumonia. Very few studies have evaluated the radiological changes in longer perspective, especially in patients with a severe form of the disease. The aim of our study was to show and qualify the persistent CT changes and to evaluate the dynamics of their evolution in convalescent patients after discharge from hospital post moderate and severe COVID-19 pneumonia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the lung involvement at acute phase and follow-up time of 6 months in 6 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia using high resolution computer tomography. RESULTS: Radiological changes in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection persisted in all patients 6 months after the first CT examination. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that the period of 3 months is too short for the follow-up CT examination in patients recovered after severe or moderate COVID-19 pneumonia.