In December 2019

coronavirus disease 2019（COVID-19）began to spread in Wuhan

Hubei Province

and gradually spread to the whole country.At present

the numbers of confirmed cases in other countries and regions are still increasing.The possibility of false negative results cannot be excluded in the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test

which is routinely used as a diagnostic method for SARS-CoV-2.Computed tomography（CT）plays an important role in epidemic management and has been considered as one of the important supplementary tools for clinical screening and diagnosis of COVID-19.According to the chest CT images

the early-stage COVID-19 patients often show subpleural ground glass opacity（GGO）in both lungs.In the advanced stage

the number of lesions increases and consolidation occurs; crazy paving sign

air bronchogram

halo sign

and reversed halo sign are observed.Severe and critical ill patients show increased and diffuse GGO and consolidation.In the recovery stage

reduced lesions and parenchymal bands are observed.Finally

most of the lesions completely disappear or only a few remain in the long-term follow-up.In order to further understand the value and role of CT in early diagnosis

early treatment

and evaluation of treatment outcomes.This paper reviews the chest CT characterization of lung lesions in COVID-19 patients.