Routine Brain MRI Findings on the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Rationale and Objectives: Post-COVID condition (PCC) is associated with long-term neuropsychiatric symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in PCC examines the brain metabolism, connectivity, and morphometry. Such techniques are not easily available in routine practice. We conducted a scoping review to determine what is known about the routine MRI findings in PCC patients. Materials and Methods: The PubMed database was searched up to 11 April 2023. We included cohort, cross-sectional, and before–after studies in English. Articles with only advanced MRI sequences (DTI, fMRI, VBM, PWI, ASL), preprints, and case reports were excluded. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and PRISMA Extension tools were used for quality assurance. Results: A total of 7 citations out of 167 were included. The total sample size was 451 patients (average age 51 ± 8 years; 67% female). Five studies followed a single recovering cohort, while two studies compared findings between two severity groups. The MRI findings were perivascular spaces (47%), microbleeds (27%) and white matter lesions (10%). All the studies agreed that PCC manifestations are not associated with specific MRI findings. Conclusion: The results of the included studies are heterogeneous due to the low agreement on the types of MRI abnormalities in PCC. Our findings indicate that the routine brain MRI protocol has little value for long COVID diagnostics.

Community-Based View on Diagnostic Imaging at the End of COVID-19 Pandemic: Online Survey-Assisted Study

“…CT shows significant long-lasting pulmonary abnormalities up to two years after suffering from severe COVID-19 infection [38]. Controversy remains regarding an informative value of routine brain MRI protocol for long COVID diagnostics [39]. However, advanced imaging modalities, in particular [18F]FDG PET imaging studies show notable hypometabolism in many regions of the brain in individuals with neurological and psychiatric manifestations of long COVID-19 [40].…”

Community-Based View on Diagnostic Imaging at the End of COVID-19 Pandemic: Online Survey-Assisted Study

“…CT shows significant long-lasting pulmonary abnormalities up to two years after suffering from severe COVID-19 infection [ 53 ]. Controversy remains regarding the informative value of routine brain MRI protocol for long COVID diagnostics [ 54 ]. However, advanced imaging modalities, in particular [18F]FDG PET imaging studies show notable hypometabolism in many regions of the brain in individuals with neurological and psychiatric manifestations of long COVID-19 [ 55 ].…”