Use of lung ultrasound in COVID-19: comparison with ultra-high-resolution computed tomography among 29 patients at "D. Cotugno" hospital, Naples, Italy

Infez Med. 2020 Sep 1;28(3):346-350.

Abstract

Ultra-High-Resolution Computed Tomography (U-HR-CT) is the reference imaging technique for pneumonia in the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Pulmonary Ultrasound (LUS) could be a valid diagnostic alternative for the imaging of COVID-19. Our study aimed to investigate the clinical performance of LUS in the initial evaluation of pneumonia in COVID-19 patients, compared to standard U-HR-CT. Among 29 patients with confirmed COVID-19, all U-HR-CT hallmarks showed an excellent concordance with LUS findings according to Cohen coefficient. In our experience, LUS is a viable alternative to U-HR-CT, with the advantages of being radiation-free, flexible, cost-effective, and reasonably reducing nosocomial transmission risks because performed at bed-side.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnostic imaging*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Ultrasonography / methods*