Abnormalities of brain imaging in  COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms

Soroor Advani; Seyyed Mohammad  Mahdi Hosseini; Rama Bozorgmehr; Arash  Khameneh-Bagheri; Sevda Mohammadzadeh; Taha Hasanzadeh; Laya Jalilian; Mohammad Vahidi; Amir Hasan Nofeli; Zahra Hooshyari

doi:10.18502/cjn.v22i3.13796

Soroor Advani Men’s Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyyed Mohammad Mahdi Hosseini School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Rama Bozorgmehr Clinical Research Development Unit, Shohada-e Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Arash Khameneh-Bagheri Department of Radiology, Shohada-e Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sevda Mohammadzadeh School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Taha Hasanzadeh School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Laya Jalilian School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Vahidi School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Amir Hasan Nofeli School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Hooshyari Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/cjn.v22i3.13796

Keywords: COVID-19; Brain; Neuroimaging; Chest Computed Tomography Scan; Stroke

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a multisystem disease, manifested by several symptoms of various degrees. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) can affect the central nervous system (CNS) through several mechanisms and brain imaging plays an essential role in the diagnosis and evaluation of the neurological involvement of COVID-19. Moreover, brain imaging of patients with COVID-19 would result in a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 neuro-pathophysiology. In this study, we evaluated the brain imaging findings of patients with COVID-19 in Shohada-e Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, and observational study. The hospital records and chest and brain computed tomography (CT) scans of patients with confirmed COVID-19 were reviewed.

Results: 161 patients were included in this study (39.1% women, mean age: 60.84). Thirteen patients (8%) had ischemic strokes identified by brain CT. Subdural hematoma, subdural effusion, and subarachnoid hemorrhage were confirmed in three patients. Furthermore, there were four cases of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Patients with and without abnormal brain CTs had similar average ages. The rate of brain CT abnormalities in both genders did not differ significantly. Moreover, abnormal brain CT was not associated with increased death rate. There was no significant difference in lung involvement (according to lung CT scan) between the two groups.

Conclusion: Our experience revealed a wide range of imaging findings in patients with COVID-19 and these findings were not associated with a more severe lung involvement or increased rate of mortality.