PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Andrew Thornton AU - Francesco Fraioli AU - Simon Wan AU - Helen S. Garthwaite AU - Balaji Ganeshan AU - Robert I. Shortman AU - Raymond Endozo AU - Stefan Vöö AU - Irfan Kayani AU - Deena Neriman AU - Leon Menezes AU - Jamshed Bomanji AU - Toby Hilllman AU - Melissa Heightman AU - Joanna C. Porter AU - Ashley M. Groves TI - Evolution of <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT Findings in Patients After COVID-19: An Initial Investigation AID - 10.2967/jnumed.121.262296 DP - 2022 Feb 01 TA - Journal of Nuclear Medicine PG - 270--273 VI - 63 IP - 2 4099 - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/63/2/270.short 4100 - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/63/2/270.full SO - J Nucl Med2022 Feb 01; 63 AB - The aim of this study was to assess the temporal evolution of pulmonary 18F-FDG uptake in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and post–COVID-19 lung disease (PCLD). Methods: Using our hospital’s clinical electronic records, we retrospectively identified 23 acute COVID-19, 18 PCLD, and 9 completely recovered 18F-FDG PET/CT patients during the 2 peaks of the U.K. pandemic. Pulmonary 18F-FDG uptake was measured as a lung target-to-background ratio (TBRlung = SUVmax/SUVmin) and compared with temporal stage. Results: In acute COVID-19, less than 3 wk after infection, TBRlung was strongly correlated with time after infection (rs = 0.81, P &lt; 0.001) and was significantly higher in the late stage than in the early stage (P = 0.001). In PCLD, TBRlung was lower in patients treated with high-dose steroids (P = 0.003) and in asymptomatic patients (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: Pulmonary 18F-FDG uptake in COVID-19 increases with time after infection. In PCLD, pulmonary 18F-FDG uptake rises despite viral clearance, suggesting ongoing inflammation. There was lower pulmonary 18F-FDG uptake in PCLD patients treated with steroids.