Ocular MRI Findings in Patients with Severe COVID-19: A Retrospective Multicenter Observational Study

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may affect various organs. This case series reports nine patients (one of nine [11%] women and eight of nine [89%] men; mean age. standard deviation, 56 years +/- 13) with globe MRI abnormalities obtained from a multicenter cohort of 129 patients presenting with severe COVID-19 from March 4, 2020, to May 1, 2020. Nine of 129 (7%) patients had one or several nodules of the posterior pole that were hyperintense at fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery imaging. All patients had nodules in the macular region, eight of nine (89%) had bilateral nodules, and two of nine (22%) had nodules outside the macular region. Screening of these patients might improve the management of potentially severe ophthalmologic manifestations of the virus. (C) RSNA, 2021

Automated summary

Among severe COVID-19 patients, approximately 7% exhibited abnormal nodules in the eyes on MRI imaging, which could lead to ophthalmological manifestations.