An audit on repeat imaging in patients who were admitted with pneumonia

Abstract

AIM: To assess compliance with British Thoracic Society recommendations for repeat chest imaging following hospital admission with community-acquired pneumonia. Secondary outcomes included radiological resolution, persistent consolidation, and detection of underlying malignancy.

METHODS: A retrospective audit was performed of patients admitted with community-acquired pneumonia to Mater Dei Hospital during the first six months of 2023. Data regarding patient demographics, risk factors, repeat imaging, imaging findings, and subsequent investigations were collected and analysed.

RESULTS: A total of 273 patients were included, with repeat imaging performed in 54.1% of patients aged >50 years, 54.2% of those aged <50 years, and 55.2% of patients with a previous history of malignancy. Most patients demonstrated complete radiological resolution, while persistent consolidation was identified in 22 patients. Only one case of lung malignancy was diagnosed following repeat imaging, corresponding to a diagnostic yield of 0.37%.

CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with guideline-recommended follow-up imaging was approximately 54% across all patient groups. Although the diagnostic yield for lung malignancy was low, repeat imaging remains important for identifying persistent abnormalities that may require further investigation.