Community Acquired Pneumonia, Lung Cancer, Pleuritis, Pulmonary Embolism
Conditions
Keywords
Lung ultrasound, Community acquired p neumonia (CAP), Pleuritis, Pulmonary embolism, Lung Cancer
Brief summary
Chest pain is an alarming symptom and one of the most frequent causes of access to the Emergency Departement. Although chest X-ray remains an essential step in the diagnostic process, several studies showed numerous limitations of radiography which frequently is inconclusive. Ultrasonography is a non-radiating imaging technique. Albeit a wide use of ultrasound, the utilization of ultrasound in the study of the lung has only recently been introduced in the clinical practice. Several studies proved that lung ultrasound is useful in the diagnosis of lung consolidation in community acquired pneumonia. Nowadays, ultrasound is not routinely used in the presence of chest pain. Our hypothesis based on clinical experience is that, in patients with pleuritic chest pain, lung ultrasound is very sensitive in detecting pneumonia and other lung diseases (such as pneumothorax) thus performing better than radiography. The primary aim of this study is to verify, in patients affected by pleuritic chest pain, the accuracy of lung ultrasound compared to chest-X-ray. The secondary aim is to evaluate the accuracy of lung ultrasound consolidations in distinguishing lung consolidation in pneumonia, atelectasis, pulmonary infarction, or tumors.
Interventions
PROCEDURELung ultrasound
Lung ultrasonography performed and interpreted by a physician (Pulmonologist or Emergency Physician) possessing specific knowledge in the procedure and a training of at least 100 thoracic ultrasonographies in accordance to a prespecified protocol.
Sponsors
University of Milan
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* patient aged 18 years and older * patient affected by thoracic pleuritic pain
Exclusion criteria
* patient affected by a chronic condition causing thoracic pain * patient affected by acute cardiovascular diseases (e.g. acute coronary syndrome)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity and specificity of lung ultrasound in pneumonia, chest wall pain, lung cancer, pulmonary embolism or other causes in patients presenting with pleuritic chest pain. | 30 days | Sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive values of lung ultrasound in pneumonia, chest wall pain, lung cancer, pulmonary embolism or other causes in patients presenting with pleuritic chest pain. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy of ultrasound in distinguishing lung consolidation in pneumonia, atelectasis, pulmonary infarction or tumors | 30 days | Accuracy of ultrasound in differentiating consolidation in distinguishing lung consolidation in pneumonia, atelectasis, pulmonary infarction, tumors or other diseases with respect to the final diagnosis stated by a scientific committee. |
Countries
Italy
Outcome results
None listed