Exploring MRI Changes in the Olfactory Bulb of COVID-19 Patients with Long-Term Anosmia

<strong>Objective:</strong> COVID-19 is a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Recent studies showed that it could infect the brain. The virus can cause a permanent loss of smell due to nerve damage. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help detect the structural changes in the olfactory bulb of patients with anosmia. In this article, we evaluated the morphological changes of the olfactory bulb in MRI in patients who suffered from persistent anosmia secondary to COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, we analysed the relationship between the severity of olfactory dysfunction and morphological changes in MRI. <strong>Material and Methods: </strong>In this study, the MRI findings of patients who complained of isolated persistent anosmia after COVID-19 infection were presented. The study included patients aged 18 to 50 years who had confirmed COVID-19 and persistent anosmia for six months. We used a questionnaire to collect patient demographics, disease history, risk factors, and medical history. Patients underwent MRIs, and their olfactory bulb alterations were evaluated. The data was analysed using SPSS version 22 software. <strong>Results:</strong> This study analysed the medical records of 15 COVID-19-positive patients admitted to the Loghman Hakim Hospital. Half of the patients had normal MRI scans. The most common disorder found was flattening or thinning of the olfactory bulb. The analysis revealed no significant relationship between Iran-SIT and MRI alterations. We categorised patients by gender. MRI abnormalities of the olfactory bulb were more prevalent in females, but this difference was not significant. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> After conducting the research, half of the cases with post-COVID persistent anosmia had normal MRI findings. The MRI findings did not show a significant correlation with persistent anosmia in our sample.