Correlation of Lung Ultrasound and Computed Tomography Findings in COVID-19 Pneumonia

Objective: To evaluate the laboratory confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia and correlate the findings obtained by thorax ultrasound (USG) and thorax computed tomography (CT). Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Departments of Infection Disease, Internal Medicine and Radiology, Sakarya Training and Research Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey, between March and May 2020. Methodology: This study was consisted of 100 adult patients having rRT-PCR positive COVID-19 pneumonia diagnossed by thorax CT. The clinical features, thorax USG and CT findings of these patients were recorded and expressed. USG and thorax CT findings were scored using a method described before. Continuous variables were expressed as mean (+/- SD) values. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for the normal distribution test, and continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. USG and CT performed at time of admission to the hospital. Descriptive statistics were conducted based on the structures of variable. Results: A total of 100 patients (54 men and 46 women; mean age, 59.88 +/- 13.03 years; range, 28-9lyears) with COVID-19 pneumonia were evaluated. Involvement areas on the lower posterior of the right side were detected as 70% by ultrasound and 74% by CT. Positively correlation was detected in lung scans assessed by USG and CT (p<0.001, r=0.705). Conclusion: Ultrasound has several advantages including no ionizing radiation exposure for health care workers, being a safe, fast and non-invasive diagnostic technique with bedside usage. Hence, ultrasound is an efficient alternative to diagnosis and monitor of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.