Radiology Findings in a Case of Acute Methanol Intoxication Complicated with Intracranial Hemorrhage

Abstract

Aim: Methanol intoxication is rare and it can be fatal. This case report aimed to describe the radiological findings in acute methanol intoxication complicated with intracranial hemorrhage in a young patient. Case Report: A 32 year-old man applied to emergency department with a major complaints of nausea, vomiting, double vision, and confusion. Glascow coma score (GCS) was 7 at the initial referral. Laboratory tests showed high anion gap metabolic acidosis. Acute methanol intoxication was diagnosed by aid of the patient anamnesis. Diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) showed similar diffusion restriction lesions in the putamen and cingulate gyrus of both cerebral hemispheres. The patient had a cardiac arrest during follow-up in the emergency department. He was converted to sinus rhythm with the interventions, intubated, and taken to the intensive care unit. GCS reduced to 3 during follow- up at the 4th day. Cerebral intraparanchimal hemorrhage at the level of left basal ganglia was observed in the brain computed tomography (CT). He was operated however remained comatose after the operation and died at the 8th day of admission. Conclusion: Possibility of methanol intoxication should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients with altered consciousness, vision disturbances and a high anion gap admitted to the emergency service. DW-MRI may be helpful in diagnosis by detecting symmetrical diffusion restrictions at the basal ganglia. Additionally radiologic methods like CT can be used to determine complications such as bleeding that may occur during the follow-up of the cases.