Spectrum of MRI findings in 58 patients with methanol intoxication: Long-term visual and neurological correlation

Abstract

Purpose: To describe MRI and DWI spectrum of brain and optic pathway changes in cases who survived acute methanol poisoning and explore whether there is correlation between imaging features and long-term visual and neurological sequelae. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the conventional MRI and DWI of 58 consecutive patients with methanol poisoning. All patients were examined in the chronic phase. Results: Optic nerve enhancement and atrophy were detected in 33 cases (56.9%). Degree of optic nerve atrophy correlated well with cupping and time lag since initial exposure to methanol. Bilateral putamen necrosis was present in 45 cases (77.6%), 19 showed asymmetrical involvement, and caudate was involved in 6 cases. Asymmetrical necrosis and caudate involvement were correlated with higher grade of neurological deficit. Twenty-one cases (36.2%) showed combination of bilateral putamen necrosis and optic nerve enhancement. Subcortical white matter high SI was detected in 25 patients (43.1%). DWI clearly depicted putamen necrosis with non-restricted pattern. Conclusion: Spectrum of residual MRI Findings in patients who survived methanol poisoning included bilateral optic nerve atrophy and enhancement, bilateral putamen and caudate necrosis as well as subcortical white matter high SI at T2WI. Diffusion WI did not have additional value in chronic stage.