Diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of lung ultrasound in coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to assess the correlation between lung ultrasound (LUS) and computed tomography (CT) findings and the predictability of LUS scores to anticipate disease characteristics, lab data, clinical severity, and mortality in patients with COVID-19. Material and methods Fifty consecutive hospitalized PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients who underwent chest CT scan and LUS on the first day of admission were enrolled. The LUS score was calculated based on the presence, severity, and distribution of parenchymal abnormalities in 14 regions. Results The participants’ mean age was 54.60 ± 19.93 years, and 26 (52%) were female. All patients had CT and LUS findings typical of COVID-19. The mean value of CT and LUS severity scores were 11.80 ± 3.89 (ranging from 2 to 20) and 13.74 ± 6.43 (ranging from 1 to 29), respectively. The LUS score was significantly higher in females ( p = 0.016), and patients with dyspnoea ( p = 0.048), HTN ( p = 0.034), immunodeficiency ( p = 0.034), room air SpO 2 ≤ 93 ( p = 0.02), and pleural effusion ( p = 0.036). LUS findings were strongly correlated with CT scan results regarding lesion type, distribution, and severity in a region-by-region fashion (92-100% agreement). An LUS score of 14 or higher was predictive of room air SpO 2 ≤ 93 and ICU admission, while an LUS score ≥ 12 was predictive of death ( p = 0.011, 0.023, and 0.003, respectively). Conclusions Our results suggested that LUS can be used as a valuable tool for detecting COVID-19 pneumonia and determining high-risk hospitalized patients, helping to triage and stratify high-risk patients, which waives the need to undertake irradiating chest CT and reduces the burden of overworked CT department staff.

Stratifying Disease Severity in Pediatric COVID-19: A Correlative Study of Serum Biomarkers and Lung Ultrasound—A Retrospective Observational Dual-Center Study

“…The absence of large consolidations may offer insights into the nature of lung involvement in this specific patient population. The comprehensive ultrasonography evaluation is crucial for providing information that guides therapeutic decision making and customizing therapies according to the identified pulmonary abnormalities [12,13,19,36].…”

“…However, false negative results can occur during the incubation period of the virus [9][10][11]. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has emerged as a nonirradiating and repeatable imaging method for evaluating lung changes associated with respiratory pathologies [12][13][14][15]. It has the capacity to offer crucial insights into the pulmonary abnormalities reported in newborns and children with minimal mild signs of COVID-19 [13,16].…”

Lung ultrasound monitoring: impact on economics and outcomes

“…In addition, LUS score moderately correlates with findings of CT scan, although some abnormalities on CT scan cannot be detected with the LUS examination [37,38]. However, CT scan has a pooled sensitivity of 86.9% (95% CI 83.6-89.6), and a pooled specificity of 78.3% (95% CI 73.7-82.3), which is not so different from pooled data from LUS [36 && ].…”

Tiny Lungs, Big Differences: Navigating the Varied COVID-19 Landscape in Neonates vs. Infants via Biomarkers and Lung Ultrasound

“…The unique physiological differences between neonates and older infants necessitate a nuanced understanding of how lung ultrasound might differ in these age groups [5,[20][21][22]. Factors such as lung development, variations in pulmonary fluid dynamics, and anatomical disparities can influence the interpretation and diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound findings [4,14,23].…”