Methanol poisoning: characteristic MRI findings

Acute methanol intoxication, which can occur as accidental or suicidal ingestion, is not an unusual poisoning.However, in developing countries adulteration of ethanol is a most common cause of methanol intoxication.Patients generally present with acute neurological, visual, and gastrointestinal symptoms. 1Brain MRI findings have been characteristic in methanol poisoning; bilateral putaminal hemorrhage is the most common finding.Brain MRI is seldom done in methanol poisoning; its significance lies when the patient remains in a state of altered sensorium even after the correction of metabolic parameters or when the patient' s condition deteriorates after having a period of improvement.MRI may be helpful in differentiating acute methanol intoxication from other conditions like hypoglycemic brain damage and head injury that can coexist or confound methanol intoxication and also lead to altered sensorium. CASEA 30-year-old alcoholic man was brought in with altered sensorium.He had a history of acute alcohol intake 6 hours prior to the presentation.On examination, his breathing pattern was of the Kussmaul type, Methanol poisoning: characteristic MRI findings