Seven-tesla magnetic resonance imaging of the nervus terminalis, olfactory tracts, and olfactory bulbs in COVID-19 patients with anosmia and hypogeusia.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Linking olfactory epithelium to the central nervous system are cranial nerve 1, the olfactory nerve, and cranial nerve "0," and the nervus terminalis (NT). Since there is minimal expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) in the olfactory nerve, it is unclear how SARS-CoV-2 causes anosmia (loss of smell) and hypogeusia (reduction of taste). In animal models, NT expresses ACE-2 receptors, suggesting a possible SARS-CoV-2 viral entry site in humans. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ultra-high-field 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could visualize the NT, olfactory bulbs (OB), and olfactory tract (OT) in healthy controls and COVID-19 anosmia or hypogeusia and to qualitatively assess for volume loss and T2 alterations.

Methods

In thi

SUBMITTER: Kirsch CFE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11473298 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature