Diagnostic performance of lung ultrasound compared to CT scan in the diagnosis of pulmonary lesions of COVID-19 induced pneumonia: a preliminary study

Chest CT scan is currently used to assess the extent of lung involvement in patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of COVID-19 pulmonary manifestations in comparison to CT scan. Thirty-three symptomatic patients with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia were evaluated by lung ultrasound and then, at a short interval, chest CT scan. In the anterior chest, each hemithorax was divided into four areas. In the posterior chest, eight zones similar to the anterior part were examined. The axillary areas were also divided into upper and lower zones (20 zones were determined per patient). Mean age of the patients was 58.66 years. The sensitivity (95% CI) and specificity (95% CI) of lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of parenchymal lesions were 90.5% (69.6–98.8%) and 50% (21.1–78.9%), respectively. In the evaluation of pleural lesions, the sensitivity (95% CI) and specificity (95% CI) of lung ultrasound were 100% (71.5–100%) and 22.7% (7.8–45.4%), respectively. Owing to the high sensitivity of ultrasound in identifying lung lesions in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, it can be recommended to use lung ultrasound as a tool for initial screening of patients with high clinical suspicion for SARS-CoV-2 infection during the pandemic. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-021-00736-w.