Category: Toxicology
Keywords: CT, carbon monoxide, cyanide (PubMed Search)
Posted: 11/29/2012 by Fermin Barrueto
(Updated: 11/12/2024)
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It is not often that a CT will be able to give you a hint to a toxicologic diagnosis. The following are CT findings that are either suggestive and even sometimes almost diagnostic for a given to toxin:
1) Intraparenchymal or Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: sympathomimetics or mycotic anuerysm rupture secondary to IV drug abuse
2) Basal Ganglia bilateral focal necrosis: characteristic of carbon monoxide, cyanide, hydrogen sulfide and even methanol
3) Severe advanced atrophy out of proportion for age: alcoholism, toluene
Adapted from Goldfranks Textbook of Toxicologic Emergencies 8th edition, p.82 Table 6-5.