title: Quantitative analysis of lung ultrasonography for the detection of community-acquired pneumonia: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chest X-ray is recommended for routine use in patients with suspected pneumonia, but its use in emergency settings is limited. In this study, the diagnostic performance of a new method for quantitative analysis of lung ultrasonography was compared with bedside chest X-ray and visual lung ultrasonography for detection of community-acquired pneumonia, using thoracic computed tomography as a gold standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two spontaneously breathing patients with suspected community-acquired pneumonia, undergoing computed tomography examination, were consecutively enrolled. Each hemithorax was evaluated for the presence or absence of abnormalities by chest X-ray and quantitative or visual ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quantitative ultrasonography showed higher sensitivity (93%), specificity (95%), and diagnostic accuracy (94%) than chest X-ray (64%, 80%, and 69%, resp.), visual ultrasonography (68%, 95%, and 77%, resp.), or their combination (77%, 75%, and 77%, resp.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative lung ultrasonography was considerably more accurate than either chest X-ray or visual ultrasonography in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia and it may represent a useful first-line approach for confirmation of clinical diagnosis in emergency settings.
authors: Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Galliera Hospital, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Corradi
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, 16100 Genoa, Italy ; Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Brusasco
authors: Radiology Department, IRCCS San Martino-IST, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Garlaschi
authors: Radiology Department, Galliera Hospital, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: 0000-0002-2050-8966
authors: F
authors: Paparo
authors: Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, IRCCS San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Ball
authors: Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
authors: Gregorio
authors: 0000-0003-3764-2624
authors: G
authors: Santori
authors: Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, IRCCS San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Pelosi
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, IRCCS San Martino-IST, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
authors: Fiorella
authors: F
authors: Altomonte
authors: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors: Antonella
authors: 0000-0003-0569-5334
authors: A
authors: Vezzani
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, 16100 Genoa, Italy.
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Brusasco
mesh_terms: D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography