RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the functional magnetic resonance imaging changes in the olfactory structures of coronavirus disease 2019 patients experiencing olfactory dysfunction. METHODS: This study included patients aged 25-65 years who presented with a sudden loss of smell, confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 infection, and persistent olfactory dysfunction for a minimum of 2 months without any treatment. RESULTS: Irrespective of the side of brain activation, the analysis of the cumulative maximum diameter of the activation zones revealed significantly lower activation in the upper frontal lobe (p = 0.037) and basal ganglia (p = 0.023) in olfactory dysfunction patients. Irrespective of the side of activation, the analysis of the number of activation points demonstrated significantly lower activation in the upper frontal lobe (p = 0.036) and basal ganglia (p = 0.009) in olfactory dysfunction patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with coronavirus-triggered olfactory dysfunction exhibited lower activity in their basal ganglia and upper frontal lobe.
