Acute carbon monoxide poisoning: MR imaging findings with clinical correlation.
PURPOSE
To assess the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in patients with acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and correlate MRI findings with carboxyhemoglobin levels.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
The MRI examinations and medical records of seven men with a mean age of 43±16.0years (SD) (range: 25-63 years) with acute CO poisoning were reviewed. MRI examinations were analyzed with respect to lesion location, imaging presentation on T1- and T2-weighted images, and diffusion characteristics on DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. We also evaluated clinical features and laboratory findings including the presenting symptoms and signs, carboxyhemoglobin level, and treatment.


RESULTS
All seven patients presented with mental status change. The level of carboxyhemoglobin ranged between 8.3% and 34.8% (normal<1.5%). All seven patients (7/7, 100%) showed restricted diffusion of the lesions on ADC maps and bilateral involvement of globus pallidus. The mean ratios of ADC values was 0.63±0.15 (SD) (range: 0.46-0.92) on bilateral globi pallidi. Cerebral cortex, cerebral white matter, cerebellum, hippocampus, amygdala, splenium of corpus callosum, midbrain and insula were also involved.


CONCLUSION
Bilateral globi pallidi with restricted diffusion may be a characteristic MRI feature in patients with acute CO poisoning. However, the relationship was not certain between the carboxyhemoglobin levels and the variety or severity of MRI findings.
['Kim|D M|DM|', 'Lee|I H|IH|', 'Park|J Y|JY|', 'Hwang|S-B|SB|', 'Yoo|D S|DS|', 'Song|C J|CJ|']
D000208:Acute Disease D000328:Adult D001921:Brain D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging D004292:Dominance, Cerebral D005917:Globus Pallidus D006801:Humans D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging D008297:Male D008609:Mental Status Schedule D008875:Middle Aged D013223:Statistics as Topic
Carbon monoxide poisoning Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) Globus pallidum