We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App





MRI Scan Reveals 'Viral Brain Invasion' of Coronavirus

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 04 Jun 2020
Print article
Image: Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Alterations in a Patient with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Photo courtesy of JAMA Network)
Image: Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Alterations in a Patient with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Photo courtesy of JAMA Network)
Doctors have found magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of the ability of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) to invade the brain based on brain scans of a COVID-19 patient with loss of taste and smell.

The patient was a 25-year-old female radiographer who had been working in a COVID-19 ward in an Italian hospital and did not have any significant medical history. She developed a mild dry cough that lasted for a day and later experienced severe loss of smell and taste. Doctors examined the patient’s nose but did not find any problems and her chest scans also came clear. However, an MRI brain scan revealed changes in adjacent areas in her nose and olfactory nerves, according to a case study published in the journal JAMA Neurology. The doctors believe that this is the first report of in vivo human brain involvement in a patient with COVID-19 showing a signal alteration compatible with viral brain invasion in a cortical region (i.e., posterior gyrus rectus) that is associated with olfaction. The doctors performed a follow-up MRI scan after 28 days and found that her symptoms had eased and she later recovered from anosmia. The doctors also performed brain scans of two other COVID-19 patients with anosmia 12 and 25 days after their symptoms started, but found no issues.

Based on the MRI findings, including the slight olfactory bulb changes, the doctors have suggested that SARS-CoV-2 might invade the brain through the olfactory pathway and cause an olfactory dysfunction of sensorineural origin, although cerebrospinal fluid and pathology studies are required to confirm this hypothesis. According to the study, observations of normal brain imaging in other patients with COVID-19–associated olfactory dysfunctions and the disappearance of the cortical MRI abnormalities in the follow-up study of the patient indicate that imaging changes are not always present in COVID-19 or might be limited to the very early phase of the infection. The doctors have further suggested that anosmia can be the predominant COVID-19 manifestation and should be considered for the identification and isolation of patients with infection to avoid the spread of the disease.

Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
Silver Member
Compact 14-Day Uninterrupted Holter ECG
NR-314P
New
Multipurpose Gynecological Table
Dixion Grace 8400

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: Researchers have developed a novel risk score for cardiovascular complications after bone marrow transplant (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Tool Predicts Cardiovascular Risks after Bone Marrow Transplantation

Every year, thousands of people undergo bone marrow transplants to potentially cure serious diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, and immune deficiency disorders. While these transplants can be lifesaving,... Read more

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: The Early Bird Bleed Monitoring System provides visual and audible indicators of the onset and progression of bleeding events (Photo courtesy of Saranas)

Novel Technology Monitors and Lowers Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Heart Procedures

Bleeding complications at the femoral access site can significantly hamper recovery, affecting the success of procedures, patient satisfaction, and overall healthcare costs. It is crucial for surgeons... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The new eye-safe laser technology can diagnose traumatic brain injury (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Diagnostic Hand-Held Device Detects Known Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

The growing need for prompt and efficient diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major cause of mortality globally, has spurred the development of innovative diagnostic technologies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.