Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy ›› 2020, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (2): 73-78.doi: 10.37015/AUDT.2020.200034

• Original Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of Ultrasonic Manifestations of Pulmonary Lesions in Patients with COVID-19

Yi Huang, MDa, Hua Wang, MDb, Wenqi Cui, MDa, Yujin Zong, MDc, Chuyun Zheng, MDa, Yue Liu, MDa, Weili Min, MDd, Sihan Wang, MDa, Mingjun Hu, MDa,*(), Yaohui Zhang, MDa,*()   

  1. a Department of Ultrasound, Xi’an Chest Hospital, Xi’an, China
    b Department of Ultrasound, Second Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
    c Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
    d Department of Oncology, Second Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
  • Received:2020-03-30 Online:2020-06-30 Published:2020-04-18
  • Contact: Mingjun Hu, MD,Yaohui Zhang, MD, E-mail:763422088@qq.com;328162296@qq.com

Abstract:

Objectives: To analyze the progression manifestations and characteristics of pulmonary lesions in patients with COVID-19 by bed-side pulmonary ultrasonography.
Methods: A total of 20 COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital from January to March in 2020 were retrospectively recruited. All cases were diagnosed according to the "Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Treatment Protocol (Trial 7th edition)". The imaging characteristics of bed-side pulmonary ultrasonography were analyzed and summarized during the different disease stages.
Results: The average course of disease was 21.2 days, including 10.5 days of the progression period and 10.7 days of the recovery period. The ultrasound images of the patients were mainly presented as unsmoothed or interrupted pleural line, and B-line distribution was observed in all cases (20/20,100%). The "inflatable signs" in the consolidation lesion were visualized in 16 cases (16/20, 75.00%). In progressive stage, the ultrasound image changed from B-line sign to sieve-like consolidation, then the consolidation aggravated from patchy to chunk-like gradually, with the decreasing air bronchogram sign within the consolidation lesion. While the imaging characteristics of the ultrasound in the recovery stage were opposite to the progress stage, Color mode showed that the perfusion in the lesions of consolidation gradually increased as well.
Conclusion: The ultrasonic manifestations of COVID-19 patients had certain characteristics in the different disease stages. The application of ultrasound in these patients could provide imaging evidence in evaluation of the disease courses and therapeutic efficacy.

Key words: COVID-19; Ultrasound; Diagnostic imaging; Disease characteristics