https://doi.org/10.5812/apid-150755

The Study of Lung Ultrasound, Chest CT and Chest X-ray in Children with COVID-19 Hospitalized in Mofid Children's Hospital During a Six-Month Period

authors:

avatar Mitra Khalili ORCID 1 , avatar Sedigheh Rafiei Tabatabaei ORCID 2 , * , avatar Seyedeh Mahsan Hoseini Alfatemi ORCID 2 , avatar Saeedeh Yaghoubi ORCID 3 , ** , avatar Ata Saadat Sadeghi ORCID 2 , avatar Armin Shirvani ORCID 2 , avatar Ahmad Raeisi ORCID 4 , 5

Department of Radiology, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children’s Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Assistant Professor of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Children and Adolescents Health Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Science in Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Department of Vector Borne Diseases Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Department of Medical Parasitology & Mycology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Corresponding Authors:
Archives of Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Vol.13, issue 1; e150755
published online: November 10, 2024
article type: Research Article
received: July 5, 2024
revised: September 21, 2024
accepted: October 5, 2024

How To Cite Khalili M, Rafiei Tabatabaei S, Hoseini Alfatemi S M, Yaghoubi S, Saadat Sadeghi A, et al. The Study of Lung Ultrasound, Chest CT and Chest X-ray in Children with COVID-19 Hospitalized in Mofid Children's Hospital During a Six-Month Period. Arch Pediatr Infect Dis. 2025;13(1):e150755. https://doi.org/10.5812/apid-150755.

Abstract

Background:

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The primary diagnostic tool for pediatric COVID-19 patients is polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Chest imaging findings in pediatric COVID-19 cases are often normal or mild. The correlation of lung ultrasound (LUS) with chest computed tomography (CT) and chest X-ray (CXR) in pediatric COVID-19 patients has not been extensively studied.

Objectives:

This study aimed to assess the correlation of LUS with chest CT and CXR in detecting COVID-19 pneumonia in children.

Methods:

This single-center cross-sectional study included patients under 18 years of age diagnosed with COVID-19 by PCR or by abnormal chest CT findings suggestive of COVID-19, admitted to Mofid Pediatric Hospital between December 2021 and August 2022. All patients underwent LUS. Approximately half of the patients also had a chest CT, and CXR was performed on 35 patients. Lung ultrasound and CT scores were calculated, and the correlation between these scores was evaluated. The correlation between LUS and CXR was also analyzed.

Results:

Sixty patients were included, of whom 21 were female, with a mean age of 4.9 ± 4.0 years. A significant correlation was observed between LUS and CT scores (correlation coefficient = 0.467, P = 0.011). Lesion distribution was similar between LUS and CT. However, no significant correlation was found between LUS scores and CXR findings (P = 0.392). Sixteen out of 19 patients with normal CXRs had LUS scores ≤ 4. Notably, three patients with normal CXRs had LUS scores of 8, 14, and 14.

Conclusions:

Lung ultrasound was more sensitive than CXR and demonstrated a significant correlation with CT. Lung ultrasound may serve as a safe alternative to CT for detecting COVID-19 pneumonia in pediatric patients.

1. Background

COVID-19 in pediatric patients is often a milder disease (1-3), with fever and cough as the most common symptoms. Gastrointestinal symptoms are also frequently observed in children (4, 5), along with neuropsychiatric manifestations in some hospitalized cases (6). The primary diagnostic tool for children with COVID-19 is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (7, 8). Chest imaging findings in pediatric COVID-19 cases are usually mild or even normal, with lower lobes often affected by patchy ground-glass opacities (9). Although computed tomography (CT) scans are commonly used in children and can detect COVID-19 pneumonia even before clinical symptoms arise, they involve radiation exposure (10).

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a potentially useful imaging modality in children with COVID-19, as it avoids radiation exposure (11). Lung ultrasound can assess the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and may replace chest CT for the initial evaluation of pulmonary involvement in many patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia (12). Studies indicate that LUS and chest CT have similar accuracy in diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia in suspected cases. Lung ultrasound can also rule out COVID-19 pneumonia, aiding in diagnosis (13).

2. Objectives

However, few studies compare LUS, chest CT, and CXR in pediatric COVID-19 cases. Thus, the aim of our study was to assess the correlation between LUS and chest CT, as well as CXR, in diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia in children.

3. Methods

This single-center cross-sectional study was conducted at Mofid University-affiliated Hospital in Tehran, Iran. The inclusion criteria included patients under 18 years of age with a definite or probable COVID-19 diagnosis based on PCR testing, chest CT, clinical symptoms, and signs, admitted to the COVID-19 ward and ICU at Mofid Pediatric Hospital between December 2021 and August 2022. Definite COVID-19 cases were defined as those with symptoms and signs suggestive of COVID-19, along with an abnormal chest CT scan and a positive PCR test. Probable cases were defined as children with compatible symptoms, an abnormal chest CT scan suggestive of COVID-19, and a negative PCR test (14).

3.1. Imaging Modalities

Nearly all patients in the study underwent LUS. Ultrasound was performed on admission, up to 8 days later (average 3 days after admission), while CT scans and CXRs were conducted at the time of admission. A Samsung H60 ultrasound machine with a linear probe was used. A 12-zone protocol divided each hemithorax into anterior, lateral, and posterior regions, each further split into upper and lower sections. Each zone received a score from 0 to 3, with a total LUS score ranging from 0 - 36, calculated by summing the scores for each zone (15).

Thirty-five patients had chest X-rays (CXRs), and 29 patients had CT scans. Computed tomography scans were performed using a 16-slice Siemens CT Scanner, and images were classified according to the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) classification system for children into four categories: Typical appearance, indeterminate appearance, atypical appearance, and negative for pneumonia (16). For CT severity scoring, all five lung lobes were assessed for involvement. Scores were assigned as follows: Zero% = 0, 1 - 25% = 1, 26 - 50% = 2, 51 - 75% = 3, and 76 - 100% = 4. A total CT severity score ranging from 0 - 20 was calculated by summing the scores for each lobe (17).

The study received ethical approval from the Research Institute for Children’s Health of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee (ethical code IR.SBMU.RICH.REC.1400.070). Verbal consent was obtained from all participants or, for those under 16, from a parent and/or legal guardian.

3.2. Statistical Analysis

Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or percentages. Pearson correlation was used to assess the correlations between imaging modalities, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 24).

4. Results

Sixty patients (39 males, 21 females; mean age 4.9 ± 4.0 years) were included in this study. The most common symptoms were fever (86%), cough (66%), and dyspnea (35%). Eighteen patients had comorbidities, two of which were related to lung diseases. Fifty patients (83%) tested positive for COVID-19 via PCR. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients are presented in Table 1.

Table 1.

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients (N = 60) a

VariablesValues
Gender
Female21 (35)
Male39 (65)
Age (y)4.92 ± 4.01
Comorbidities18 (30)
Neurologic disease4 (22.2)
Pulmonary disease2 (11.1)
Malignancy6 (33.3)
Digestive diseases2 (11.1)
Other 4 (22.2)
Symptoms
Fever52 (86.7)
Cough40 (66.7)
Dyspnea21 (35.0)
Laboratory results
WBC8.85 ± 5.19
RBC4.76 ± 5.01
Lymphocyte percentage34.54 ± 16.65
Neutrophil percentage58.91 ± 18.25
Hemoglobin11.68 ± 1.86
Platelets342.81 ± 171.36
C-reactive protein22.52 ± 14.21
ESR30.66 ± 19.96
AST61.53 ± 144.95
LDH621.21 ± 231.25
SARS-CoV-2 (RT-PCR) test59 (98.3)
Positive50 (84.7)
Negative9 (15.3)

Abbreviations: WBC, white blood cell count; RBC, red blood cell count; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; RT-PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

a Values are expressed as No. (%) or mean ± SD.

Nearly all patients (98%) underwent a LUS examination. Pleural effusion was detected in two patients (3.4%). The mean LUS score was 6.28 ± 4.49. Chest X-rays were performed on 35 patients (58%); 19 (54%) had normal findings, and 9 (25%) exhibited increased bronchovascular markings (Table 2).

Table 2.

Imaging Modalities (Computed Tomography, Lung Ultrasound, and Chest X-Ray) Findings a

VariablesValues
CT findings29 (48.3)
Lesion characteristics28
Consolidation13 (46.4)
Ground-glass opacity3 (10.7)
Mixed pattern12 (42.9)
Nodular5 (17.9)
Round or well-defined opacity2 (7.1)
Halo sign1 (3.6)
Type of ground-glass opacity9
Pure ground-glass opacity7 (77.8)
Crazy paving2 (22.2)
Type of consolidation18
Non lobular14 (77.8)
Lobular4 (22.2)
Pleural effusion3 (10.3)
Mild2 (66.7)
Severe1 (33.3)
Lymphadenopathy4 (13.8)
COVID-19 imaging classification28
Typical appearance12 (42.9)
Indeterminate appearance15 (53.6)
Atypical appearance1 (3.6)
Negative for pneumonia0
Average of CT severity score5.82 ± 3.82
LUS findings59 (98.3)
Pleural effusion2 (3.4)
Average of LUS score6.28 ± 4.49
CXR findings35 (58.3)
Normal19 (54.3)
Increased bronchovesicular marking9 (25.7)
Consolidation4 (11.4)
Ground-glass opacity2 (5.7)
Pleural effusion1 (2.9)

Abbreviations: LUS, lung ultrasound; CT, computed tomography; CXR, chest X-ray.

a Values are expressed as No. (%) or mean ± SD.

Approximately half of the patients (48%) had a chest CT scan. The most common lesion characteristics were consolidation (46%) and a mixed pattern (42%). Pleural effusion was noted in three patients (10.3%): Two mild cases and one severe case. Twelve patients (42.9%) displayed a typical appearance on CT, while 15 (53.6%) had an indeterminate appearance. The mean CT severity score was 5.82 ± 3.82. Findings from the imaging modalities are summarized in Table 2.

For the 29 patients who underwent both LUS and chest CT, a significant correlation was observed between the LUS score and the CT severity score (correlation coefficient = 0.467, P = 0.011). Lesion distribution on LUS was similar to that on chest CT.

Table 3 presents results for the definitive and probable diagnosis of COVID-19 based on PCR positivity alongside abnormal findings on LUS, chest CT, and CXR.

No significant correlation was found between LUS scores and CXR findings (P = 0.392). Of the 19 patients with normal CXR findings, 16 had a LUS score ≤ 4, while the LUS scores of the remaining three were 8, 14, and 14.

Table 3.

Frequency of Abnormal Lung Ultrasound, Chest Computed Tomography and Chest X-ray to Separate Definite and Probable Diagnosis of COVID-19 by Polymerase Chain Reaction Test a

Abnormal ImagingDefinite (PCR Positive); N = 50Probable (PCR Negative); N = 10
LUS (38)31 (62)8 (80)
Chest CT (29)19 (38)10 (100)
CXR (16)15 (30)1 (10)

Abbreviations: PCR, polymerase chain reaction; LUS, lung ultrasound; CT, computed tomography; CXR, chest X-ray.

a Values are expressed as No. (%).

5. Discussion

In our study, 12 patients (42.9%) showed typical changes for COVID-19, 15 patients (53.6%) had indeterminate chest CT findings, and 1 patient (3.6%) had atypical chest CT findings. Lopes et al. in Brazil observed similar findings among 45 adult COVID-19 patients, where 29 (64.4%) CT images were classified as typical, 8 (17.8%) as indeterminate, and another 8 (17.8%) as negative. We found a significant correlation between LUS scores and CT severity scores in pediatric COVID-19 patients (correlation coefficient = 0.467, P = 0.011). This association aligns with the findings of Lopes et al., who also observed a correlation between LUS scores and lung lesion extent on CT (P < .0001) (18).

Similarly, studies by Nouvenne et al. and Tung-Chen et al., conducted in Italy and Spain respectively, also reported a significant correlation between LUS and CT scores (P < 0.001) (19, 20). In China, Deng et al. demonstrated a strong correlation between LUS scores and CT scores in critically ill COVID-19 pneumonia patients (r = 0.891, P < 0.01) (21). Similar results have been documented in studies of pregnant populations, with a high correlation between LUS and CT scores (r = 0.793, P < 0.01) as reported by Deng et al. (22), and a significant positive correlation (rICC = 0.946; P < 0.001) found by Biancolin et al. (23).

In terms of lesion distribution, we observed comparable lung involvement on both LUS and chest CT. The study by Giorno et al. in Brazil also reported a similar topographical distribution of lesions on LUS and chest CT in pediatric COVID-19 patients (11). Our results further showed no significant correlation between LUS scores and CXR findings (P = 0.392), consistent with the findings of Volpicelli et al. in Italy (24). In their descriptive study, LUS and CXR results disagreed in 60 (43.2%) adult patients suspected of COVID-19, underscoring the limitations of CXR in identifying COVID-19 lesions compared to LUS.

In our study, sixteen out of the nineteen patients with normal CXR findings had a LUS score of ≤ 4, while the remaining three with normal CXRs had LUS scores of 8, 14, and 14 (these patients had ALL and neurological diseases). This suggests that LUS was more sensitive than CXR. A similar observation was made in a pediatric COVID-19 study by Giorno et al. in Brazil, where eight patients with LUS abnormalities had normal CXRs (11). In line with our findings, Ture et al. in Turkey also found that LUS was more sensitive than CXR in early-stage and mild COVID-19 pneumonia in pediatric patients suspected of COVID‐19; in their study, four patients had normal CXRs but displayed LUS findings (25). Consistently, Mateos Gonzalez et al. reported that 20 adult COVID-19 patients with normal CXRs (55%) had pulmonary infiltrates detected by LUS. Their study in Spain found that LUS was more sensitive than CXR (81% vs. 63%) in detecting COVID-19 pneumonia (26). Similarly, in a study by Gibbons et al., LUS showed higher sensitivity than CXR in diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia in adults (97.6% vs. 69.9%) (27).

5.1. Limitations

Our study had several limitations. First, the sample size was relatively small. Second, LUS, chest CT, and CXR were not performed simultaneously, with ultrasound conducted an average of three days after admission, which affects the assessment of correlations among the different imaging modalities. In our study, 83% of patients had a positive PCR test. While a positive PCR test is the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19, during the early pandemic, patients with abnormal chest CT findings, a contact history, and clinical symptoms were also treated as COVID-19 cases.

5.2. Conclusions

Lung ultrasound demonstrated greater sensitivity than CXR and outperformed it in detecting COVID-19 pneumonia. Lung ultrasound showed a significant correlation with CT findings, making it a promising, safer alternative for diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia in children, although it may not fully replace chest CT in all cases.

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