Abstract
SUMMARY: Myalgia is a previously reported symptom in patients with COVID-19 infection; however, the presence of paraspinal myositis has not been previously reported. We report MR imaging findings of the spine obtained in a cohort of 9 patients with COVID-19 infection who presented to our hospital between March 3, 2020 and May 6, 2020. We found that 7 of 9 COVID-19 patients (78%) who underwent MR imaging of the spine had MR imaging evidence of paraspinal myositis, characterized by intramuscular edema and/or enhancement. Five of these 7 patients had a prolonged hospital course (greater than 25 days). Our knowledge of the imaging manifestations of COVID-19 infection is expanding. It is important for clinicians>a to be aware of the relatively high frequency of paraspinal myositis in this small cohort of patients with COVID-19 infection.
ABBREVIATIONS:
- COVID-19
- coronavirus disease 2019
- SARS-CoV-2
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2
Footnotes
Disclosures: William A. Mehan—UNRELATED: Consultancy: Kura Oncology, Comments: Independent reviewer of head and neck imaging studies for a clinical trial; Expert testimony: CRICO and other health insurance companies, Comments: Expert opinion for medicolegal cases involving neuroimaging.
- © 2020 by American Journal of Neuroradiology
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