Navigating the CT wave: multicentric chest imaging trends before, during, and after COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted healthcare practices worldwide, including the use of computed tomography (CT) in chest examinations. This study aims to analyse the trends in CT chest examinations before, during, and after the pandemic.

Data were retrospectively collected from 10 public hospitals over a period spanning from pre-pandemic years (2019 until February 2020) through the pandemic (March 2020-April 2023) (as defined by the World Health Organisation) and into the post-pandemic phase (May 2023-December 2024). Patient exposure information from more than 240,000 CT examinations was collected and analysed using a commercial dose management system. Statistical analysis was performed with descriptive and inferential statistics employed to compare the number of CT chest examinations and patient radiation exposure across different periods.

The results indicate a marked increase in CT chest examinations during the pandemic, which reached a plateau and remained stable post-pandemic (p-value < 0.001). Importantly, the average radiation exposure per patient has decreased with the evolution of technology, indicating improved dose management practices. The results also showed a shift between protocols used for CT chest examinations during the pandemic, with the move towards more dedicated procedures.

These findings highlight the sustained demand for CT chest examinations and the effective management of patient radiation exposure during and after the pandemic. The study underscores that those possible practices obtained during the pandemic became the norm after the end of the pandemic.

Question This study analyses trends in CT chest examinations and patient radiation exposure before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings CT chest examinations rose sharply during the pandemic, then stabilised, while average patient radiation exposure remained consistent throughout. Clinical relevance The findings demonstrate ongoing demand for CT chest scans and radiation management, emphasizing the need for sustainable imaging practices in future healthcare planning.