Trends in oncological imaging during the COVID‐19 pandemic through the vaccination era

Abstract Background This study examines the impact that the COVID‐19 pandemic has had on computed tomography (CT)‐based oncologic imaging utilization. Methods We retrospectively analyzed cancer‐related CT scans during four time periods: pre‐COVID (1/5/20–3/14/20), COVID peak (3/15/20–5/2/20), post‐COVID peak (5/3/20–12/19/20), and vaccination period (12/20/20–10/30/21). We analyzed CTs by imaging indication, setting, and hospital type. Using percentage decrease computation and Student's t‐test, we calculated the change in mean number of weekly cancer‐related CTs for all periods compared to the baseline pre‐COVID period. This study was performed at a single academic medical center and three affiliated hospitals. Results During the COVID peak, mean CTs decreased (−43.0%, p