BACKGROUND: Lung ultrasound (LU) is becoming an increasingly important diagnostic tool in detecting lung involvement in Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to ascertain the likelihood of finding LU abnormalities; mimicking lung involvement; in COVID-19 negative healthy individuals. METHODS: We performed LU on 265 healthcare workers; not presenting COVID-19 major symptoms and in good health; during the course of a serological screening program for COVID-19 in our General Hospital. LU results were reported as total Lung Ultrasound Score (LUS) using a 12-zone method of reporting. RESULTS: 250/265 subjects were included in the COVID-19 negative group. LU was not completely normal (LUS ≠ 0) in 65/250 COVID-19 negative subjects (26%) and in 12/15 (80%) poorly symptomatic COVID-19 positive subjects; with a multifocal pattern in 12.7% vs. 66.7% of cases respectively. Age and COVID-19 positivity were independent predictors of total LUS. A total LUS ≥ 2 had a sensitivity of 66.67% and a specificity of 85.60% in detecting COVID-19 positivity. CONCLUSIONS: A slightly altered LU can be quite frequent in healthy COVID-19 negative subjects. LU can have a role in confirming but not screening COVID-19 poorly symptomatic cases.
BACKGROUND: Lung ultrasound (LU) is becoming an increasingly important diagnostic tool in detecting lung involvement in Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to ascertain the likelihood of finding LU abnormalities; mimicking lung involvement; in COVID-19 negative healthy individuals. METHODS: We performed LU on 265 healthcare workers; not presenting COVID-19 major symptoms and in good health; during the course of a serological screening program for COVID-19 in our General Hospital. LU results were reported as total Lung Ultrasound Score (LUS) using a 12-zone method of reporting. RESULTS: 250/265 subjects were included in the COVID-19 negative group. LU was not completely normal (LUS ≠ 0) in 65/250 COVID-19 negative subjects (26%) and in 12/15 (80%) poorly symptomatic COVID-19 positive subjects; with a multifocal pattern in 12.7% vs. 66.7% of cases respectively. Age and COVID-19 positivity were independent predictors of total LUS. A total LUS ≥ 2 had a sensitivity of 66.67% and a specificity of 85.60% in detecting COVID-19 positivity. CONCLUSIONS: A slightly altered LU can be quite frequent in healthy COVID-19 negative subjects. LU can have a role in confirming but not screening COVID-19 poorly symptomatic cases.
Authors: Fabio Piscaglia; Federico Stefanini; Vito Cantisani; Paul S Sidhu; Richard Barr; Annalisa Berzigotti; Maria Cristina Chammas; Jean-Michel Correas; Christoph Frank Dietrich; Steven Feinstein; Pintong Huang; Christian Jenssen; Yuko Kono; Masatoshi Kudo; Ping Liang; Andrej Lyshchik; Christian Nolsøe; Xyaoyan Xie; Francesco Tovoli Journal: Ultraschall Med Date: 2020-04-15 Impact factor: 6.548
Authors: Christoph F Dietrich; Gebhard Mathis; Xin-Wu Cui; Andre Ignee; Michael Hocke; Tim O Hirche Journal: Ultrasound Med Biol Date: 2015-02 Impact factor: 2.998
Authors: Antonio Nouvenne; Marco Davìd Zani; Gianluca Milanese; Alberto Parise; Marco Baciarello; Elena Giovanna Bignami; Anna Odone; Nicola Sverzellati; Tiziana Meschi; Andrea Ticinesi Journal: Respiration Date: 2020-06-22 Impact factor: 3.580
Authors: Ho Yuen Frank Wong; Hiu Yin Sonia Lam; Ambrose Ho-Tung Fong; Siu Ting Leung; Thomas Wing-Yan Chin; Christine Shing Yen Lo; Macy Mei-Sze Lui; Jonan Chun Yin Lee; Keith Wan-Hang Chiu; Tom Wai-Hin Chung; Elaine Yuen Phin Lee; Eric Yuk Fai Wan; Ivan Fan Ngai Hung; Tina Poy Wing Lam; Michael D Kuo; Ming-Yen Ng Journal: Radiology Date: 2020-03-27 Impact factor: 11.105