Management strategies for tackling COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with lung cancer: Experience gained during the pandemic

Abstract

Chest imaging during the COVID-19 pandemic should ideally be reserved for patients with moderate-severe disease or in mild cases with worsening respiratory status. Lung cancer patients who contract COVID-19 have greater risk for severity, disease progression, early deterioration and high mortality as compared to the general population. Radiologists who are at the forefront of imaging technology have to take responsibility of notifying the managing physicians of the initial findings in lung cancer patients with suspected COVID-19 in order to implement precautionary measures. Optimal management strategies with intense surveillance measures have to be adopted in such patients during the pandemic to reduce disease burden and to achieve better prognostic outcomes related to lung cancer treatment