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Updated: Aug 30, 2025
Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia
Published on: December 19, 2020
Long-term Lung Abnormalities Associated with COVID-19 Pneumonia.
Jeffrey P Kanne1, Brent P Little1, Jefree J Schulte1
1From the Department of Radiology (J.P.K.) and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (J.J.S.), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Ave, MC 3252, Madison, WI 53792-3252; Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla (B.P.L.); Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass (A.H.); and Departments of Radiology and Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY (L.B.H.).
Long COVID can cause lasting lung damage, with one-third of severe cases showing abnormalities like fibrosis a year later. Pulmonary vascular risks also persist, similar to other acute lung injuries.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- The third year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided insights into the long-term pulmonary consequences of COVID-19 pneumonia.
- Residual lung abnormalities are common in patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 pneumonia, particularly those requiring intensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the current understanding of long-term pulmonary sequelae following COVID-19 pneumonia.
- To highlight both parenchymal and vascular abnormalities and their histologic basis.
Main Methods:
- Review of findings from chest CT scans one year post-COVID-19 pneumonia.
- Analysis of reported pulmonary vascular events and associated histologic findings.
Main Results:
- Approximately one-third of patients exhibit residual chest CT abnormalities, including parenchymal bands, bronchial dilation, and fibrosis.
- A persistent, increased risk of venothromboembolic events is noted in a small patient cohort.
- Histologic abnormalities are consistent with those seen in other acute lung injury cases.
Conclusions:
- Long-term pulmonary complications of COVID-19 pneumonia are significant and varied.
- Continued monitoring for both parenchymal and vascular sequelae is warranted.
- SARS-CoV-2-induced lung injury shares similarities with other forms of acute lung injury.
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