Anosmia in COVID-19 Associated with Injury to the Olfactory Bulbs Evident on MRI

Abstract

<h3>SUMMARY:</h3> Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may have symptoms of anosmia or partial loss of the sense of smell, often accompanied by changes in taste. We report 5 cases (3 with anosmia) of adult patients with COVID-19 in whom injury to the olfactory bulbs was interpreted as microbleeding or abnormal enhancement on MR imaging. The patients had persistent headache (<i>n</i> = 4) or motor deficits (<i>n</i> = 1). This olfactory bulb injury may be the mechanism by which the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 causes olfactory dysfunction.