Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an accurate, safe, and cheap tool assisting in the diagnosis of several acute respiratory diseases. The diagnostic value of LUS in the workup of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in the hospital setting is still uncertain. Objectives: The aim of this observational study was to explore correlations of the LUS appearance of COVID-19-related pneumonia with CT findings. Methods: Twenty-six patients (14 males, age 64 ± 16 years) urgently hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia, who underwent chest CT and bedside LUS on the day of admission, were enrolled in this observational study. CT images were reviewed by expert chest radiologists, who calculated a visual CT score based on extension and distribution of ground-glass opacities and consolidations. LUS was performed by clinicians with certified competency in thoracic ultrasonography, blind to CT findings, following a systematic approach recommended by ultrasound guidelines. LUS score was calculated according to presence, distribution, and severity of abnormalities. Results: All participants had CT findings suggestive of bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia, with an average visual scoring of 43 ± 24%. LUS identified 4 different possible -abnormalities, with bilateral distribution (average LUS score 15 ± 5): focal areas of nonconfluent B lines, diffuse confluent B lines, small subpleural microconsolidations with pleural line irregularities, and large parenchymal consolidations with air bronchograms. LUS score was significantly correlated with CT visual scoring (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) and oxygen saturation in room air (r = -0.66, p < 0.001). Conclusion: When integrated with clinical data, LUS could represent a valid diagnostic aid in patients with suspect COVID-19 pneumonia, which reflects CT findings.

Lung Ultrasound in COVID-19 Pneumonia: Correlations with Chest CT on Hospital admission / Nouvenne, Antonio; Zani, Marco Davìd; Milanese, Gianluca; Parise, Alberto; Baciarello, Marco; Bignami, Elena Giovanna; Odone, Anna; Sverzellati, Nicola; Meschi, Tiziana; Ticinesi, Andrea. - In: RESPIRATION. - ISSN 0025-7931. - 99:7(2020), pp. 617-624. [10.1159/000509223]

Lung Ultrasound in COVID-19 Pneumonia: Correlations with Chest CT on Hospital admission

Nouvenne, Antonio;Zani, Marco Davìd;Milanese, Gianluca;Parise, Alberto;Baciarello, Marco;Bignami, Elena Giovanna;Odone, Anna;Sverzellati, Nicola;Meschi, Tiziana;Ticinesi, Andrea
2020-01-01

Abstract

Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an accurate, safe, and cheap tool assisting in the diagnosis of several acute respiratory diseases. The diagnostic value of LUS in the workup of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in the hospital setting is still uncertain. Objectives: The aim of this observational study was to explore correlations of the LUS appearance of COVID-19-related pneumonia with CT findings. Methods: Twenty-six patients (14 males, age 64 ± 16 years) urgently hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia, who underwent chest CT and bedside LUS on the day of admission, were enrolled in this observational study. CT images were reviewed by expert chest radiologists, who calculated a visual CT score based on extension and distribution of ground-glass opacities and consolidations. LUS was performed by clinicians with certified competency in thoracic ultrasonography, blind to CT findings, following a systematic approach recommended by ultrasound guidelines. LUS score was calculated according to presence, distribution, and severity of abnormalities. Results: All participants had CT findings suggestive of bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia, with an average visual scoring of 43 ± 24%. LUS identified 4 different possible -abnormalities, with bilateral distribution (average LUS score 15 ± 5): focal areas of nonconfluent B lines, diffuse confluent B lines, small subpleural microconsolidations with pleural line irregularities, and large parenchymal consolidations with air bronchograms. LUS score was significantly correlated with CT visual scoring (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) and oxygen saturation in room air (r = -0.66, p < 0.001). Conclusion: When integrated with clinical data, LUS could represent a valid diagnostic aid in patients with suspect COVID-19 pneumonia, which reflects CT findings.
2020
Lung Ultrasound in COVID-19 Pneumonia: Correlations with Chest CT on Hospital admission / Nouvenne, Antonio; Zani, Marco Davìd; Milanese, Gianluca; Parise, Alberto; Baciarello, Marco; Bignami, Elena Giovanna; Odone, Anna; Sverzellati, Nicola; Meschi, Tiziana; Ticinesi, Andrea. - In: RESPIRATION. - ISSN 0025-7931. - 99:7(2020), pp. 617-624. [10.1159/000509223]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11381/2877892
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