Thorax MR supports COVID-19 diagnosis and follow-up

Although thorax Computed Tomography (CT) is used in the routine imaging of COVID-19, MR has advantages that make it useful as an alternative diagnostic tool. In a study recently published in Academic Radiology, researchers compared findings from thorax CT images and findings from MR images in patients diagnosed with COVID-19⁴. The authors suggest using MR as an alternative to CT, particularly for assessing lung pathology and the long-term impact of COVID-19 on lung health.

Since there is no radiation risk, MR allows multiple exams to be performed on the same patient, and it can provide additional information to CT during patient follow-up. A T2- weighted spin-echo PROPELLER sequence is a good option for clinical translation to other platforms and sites. In fact, the authors noted that due to the low proton content of the lung, pulmonary consolidation and ground-glass opacities occurring in pneumonia result in higher proton and signal intensity, making it more pronounced against adjacent normal signal. The authors concluded that MR is important to assess lung pathology over time as more is learned about COVID-19 and the long-term impact on lung health.