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Smell and Taste Disorders in COVID-19 Patients: Objective Testing and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Five Cases

Carmen Maria Schönegger#1Sarah Gietl#1Bernhard Heinzle2Kurt Freudenschuss3Gernot Walder1

SN Compr Clin Med. 2020 Oct 24;1-5. doi: 10.1007/s42399-020-00606-4. Online ahead of print.


AbstractSmell and taste disorders are acknowledged as characteristic symptoms for SARS-CoV-2 infection by now. These symptoms have been linked to a neuroinvasive course of disease. In this study, we investigated five consecutive COVID-19 patients with a prolonged course of dysosmia and dysgeusia. Those with objectifiable alteration in taste or smell were subjected to MRI with contrast agent to investigate possible involvement of the central nervous system. We found dysosmia and dysgeusia to be mostly objectifiable, but no evidence for neuroinvasiveness could be detected by MRI in the late stage of the disease. Alterations in taste and smell could be objectified in most patients. Nevertheless, no evidence for a neuroinvasive potential could be identified by MRI, at least in the late stage of disease. We encourage medical professionals to conduct specialized examinations and MRIs in the acute stage of disease, which guarantees an optimum patient care.

Keywords: MRI; Neuoinvasive potential; Objective olfactory and gustatory testing; Smell and taste disorders.

Links: PMCID: PMC7585355; DOI: 10.1007/s42399-020-00606-4

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