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

Iodice, Valentina; Pisaturo, Mariantonietta; Fusco, Francesco Maria; Tambaro, Orsola; Parrella, Giovanni; Di Flumeri, Giusy; Viglietti, Rosaria; Pisapia, Raffaella; Palmiero, Giulia; Bignardi, Elio; Coppola, Michele; Rescigno, Carolina; Sangiovanni, Vincenzo

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.