Neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV2 with neuroradiological and neuropathological findings: is the brain a target or a victim?

Abstract

Coronaviridae family includes pathogen viruses for humans, that lead to clinical conditions with main respiratory involvement; many of these viruses have notoriously a neuroinvasive potential, as demonstrated by published data on SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV epidemics, as well by results obtained in experimental models. During pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is noticed that the central nervous system involvement represented a truly significant moment in the history of some COVID-19 patients; indeed, clinical and radiological features published in literature regarding COVID-19 disease are consistent with a neurological involvement. It is also known that histopathological data related to SARS-CoV2 infection have been published with considerable delay, which was even greater for neuropathological information. Moreover, many published data are incomplete, and often the lesions described are not directly related to the action of the virus. In this review, we collected the available radiological and neuropathological information, in order to delineate a more complete picture of the relationship between SARS-Cov2 and brain, focusing our attention on the two most important neuroinvasion routes for the virus. We also highlighted what we consider methodological mistakes both in the autopsy procedures and brain study in COVID-19 deaths. We emphasize the need for a complete study of all the organs in case of autopsy. It is important that through this experience, we no longer do the mistake of neglecting the brain.

Keywords: COVID-19; brain; neuropathology; neuroradiology; virology.