RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the sensitivity and specificity of lung ultrasound (LUS) and show its place in diagnosing patients with known coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, according to chest computed tomography and the COVID-19 reporting and data system (CO-RADS). METHODS: Nineteen patients who admitted to a single university hospital emergency department between March 5, 2020, and April 27, 2020, describing dyspnea were included in the study and underwent LUS by a single emergency specialist. The patient population was divided into 2 groups, COVID-19 positive and negative, and the sensitivity and specificity of LUS according to chest computed tomography were calculated for COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis. In the subgroup analysis, the patient group was divided into real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction positive (n = 7) and negative (n = 12), and sensitivity and specificity were calculated according to the CO-RADS. RESULTS: According to the CO-RADS, significant differences were detected between the LUS positive and negative groups in terms of COVID-19 pneumonia presence. Only 1 patient was evaluated as CO-RADS 2 in the LUS positive group, and 2 patients were evaluated as CO-RADS 4 in the LUS negative group (P = 0.04). The sensitivity of LUS according to the CO-RADS for COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis was measured to be 77.78% (95% confidence interval [CI], 39.9%-97.1%), specificity was 90% (95% CI, 55.5%-99.75%), positive predictive value was 87.5% (95% CI, 51.35%-97.8%), and accuracy was 84.21% (95% CI, 60.4%-96.62%; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, LUS is easily used in the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia because it has bedside application and is fast, easy to apply, reproducible, radiation free, safe for pregnant women, and cheap.