Digital Diagnostics (Apr 2023)

Dynamic MRI in a COVID-19 patient: a case series

  • Yuriy A. Vasilev,
  • Evgeniia A. Grik,
  • Olga Yu. Panina,
  • Anna N. Khoruzhaya,
  • Dmitriy S. Semenov,
  • Alexander V. Bazhin,
  • Yulia N. Vasileva

DOI
https://doi.org/10.17816/DD114723
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 71 – 79

Abstract

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Extensive spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prompted an investigation of its diagnostic features. Acute viral pneumonia associated with COVID-19 has been described in detail using CT, radiography, and MRI. There is no data in the literature on the descriptive picture observed with dynamic MRI. Considering a comprehensive diagnostic approach, radiologists should know how to correctly recognize and interpret COVID-19 on MRI. This case series demonstrated the ability of dynamic MRI to detect the cloudy sky sign and distinguish it from consolidation in COVID-19 patients, thus presumably distinguishing between early or mild changes and a progressive clinical course. These changes in dynamic lung images on MRI can be recorded depending on the phase of the respiratory cycle. Thus, MRI, as a radiation-free tool that can be used to examine a patient with acute viral pneumonia COVID-19, can be useful in cases where access to computed tomography is limited and dynamic morphofunctional imaging is required.

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