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Review
. 2021 Jun;24(2):115-123.
doi: 10.1007/s40477-021-00575-x. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

One year of SARS-CoV-2 and lung ultrasound: what has been learned and future perspectives

Andrea Boccatonda  1   2 , Giulio Cocco  3 , Eugenia Ianniello  4 , Marco Montanari  5 , Damiano D'Ardes  3 , Claudio Borghi  4 , Fabrizio Giostra  6 , Roberto Copetti  7 , Cosima Schiavone  3
Affiliations
Review

One year of SARS-CoV-2 and lung ultrasound: what has been learned and future perspectives

Andrea Boccatonda et al. J Ultrasound. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

A first screening by ultrasound can be relevant to set a specific diagnostic and therapeutic route for a patient with a COVID-19 infection. The finding of bilateral B-lines and white lung areas with patchy peripheral distribution and sparing areas is the most suggestive ultrasound picture of COVID-19 pneumonia. Failure to detect bilateral interstitial syndrome (A pattern) on ultrasound excludes COVID-19 pneumonia with good diagnostic accuracy, but does not exclude current infection. The use of shared semiotic and reporting schemes allows the comparison and monitoring of the COVID-19 pulmonary involvement over time. This review aims to summarise the main data on pulmonary ultrasound and COVID-19 to provide accurate and relevant information for clinical practice.

Keywords: COVID-19; Imaging; Lung; SARS-CoV-2; Ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Lung ultrasound score execution scheme
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Differential diagnosis of interstitial syndrome based on epidemiological and clinical criteria
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Suggested algorithm to manage COVID-19 patients in the emergency department
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Role of lung ultrasound in different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Role of lung ultrasound and COVID-19 serology
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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