Efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging as a tool to assess central nervous system involvement of COVID-19

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify patients with acute neurological findings associated with COVID-19 and to demonstrate the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in its diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Between June 2020 and December 2021, 90 patients who were diagnosed with Covid-19 in our clinic, had pneumonia findings in the lung, acute neurological findings, and brain MRI were included in the study. Results were evaluated retrospectively for 46 patients without central nervous system (CNS) involvement and 44 patients with CNS findings. Results: The most common neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients; Unexplained loss of consciousness by treatment (28/44, 63.6%), focal neurologic deficits (21/44, 47.7%), and seizures (9/44, 20.4%). Increased mortality, increment in the need for ventilator support, and prolonged stay in the intensive care unit were observed in patients with CNS findings. Brain MRI was performed on 44 patients with neurological symptoms. Mean age of 68.3 years (45–78) in patients undergoing MRI. Acute findings were detected in MRI of 32 patients (72%). The most common diagnoses in brain MRI were acute and subacute infarcts. Conclusion: The mechanism of CNS manifestations is still unclear, and neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients are an important problem, especially in intensive care units. Therefore, early detection and treatment of CNS involvement are very important.

Keywords

• covid-19
• konfüzyon
• santral sinir sistemi
• mri.
• covid-19
• confusion
• central nervous system
• mri.