Raiteri, Alberto and Alvisi, Margherita and Serio, Ilaria and Stefanini, Federico and Tovoli, Francesco and Piscaglia, Fabio (2021) Lung Ultrasound Is Often, but Not Always, Normal in Healthy Subjects: Considerations for COVID-19 Pandemic. Diagnostics, 11 (1). p. 82. ISSN 2075-4418
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Abstract
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.
Item Type: | Article |
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Subjects: | Library Eprints > Medical Science |
Depositing User: | Managing Editor |
Date Deposited: | 30 Nov 2022 05:12 |
Last Modified: | 06 Aug 2024 06:18 |
URI: | http://news.pacificarchive.com/id/eprint/482 |