DTI of the Olfactory Bulb in COVID-19-Related Anosmia: A Pilot Study

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2022 Aug;43(8):1180-1183. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A7590.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the utility of DTI in the detection of olfactory bulb dysfunction in COVID-19-related anosmia. It was performed in 62 patients with COVID-19-related anosmia and 23 controls. The mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy were calculated by 2 readers. The difference between the fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity values of anosmic and control olfactory bulbs was statistically significant (P = .001). The threshold of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity to differentiate a diseased from normal olfactory bulb were 0.22 and 1.5, with sensitivities of 84.4% and 96.8%, respectively, and a specificity of 100%.

MeSH terms

  • Anosmia*
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Olfactory Bulb / diagnostic imaging
  • Pilot Projects