Consensus Panel Statement on Chest Imaging for COVID-19 Patients

An international panel of physicians experienced in treating adult patients with COVID-19 has developed recommendations for the use of chest imaging (x-ray or computed tomography [CT]). The panel of mostly radiologists and pulmonologists considered clinical scenarios with varying symptom severity, risk for disease progression, disease likelihood, and resources. Panelists rated the appropriateness of imaging for each scenario, held a consensus meeting, and conducted a literature review.

Published reports indicate that in settings where patients were encouraged to present early in their course, with mild symptoms, chest x-ray was insensitive. Conversely, in settings with high rates of false-negative testing, CT identified some cases earlier th…