Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and MRI Lesions: 5 Important Facts

In addition to acute toxicity, carbon monoxide poisoning can result in delayed neurological sequelae. In this 6-minute video presentation, Dr. Andrew Wilner describes the epidemiology and pathophysiology of carbon monoxide poisoning and reviews a recent observational study of 387 patients with carbon monoxide poisoning who were evaluated with MRI diffusion weighted imaging (DWI).¹

Results include the localization of DWI lesions and the spectrum of delayed neurological symptoms and signs. The study concluded that the presence of DWI lesions after carbon monoxide poisoning is a strong predictor for the development of delayed neurological sequelae.

Dr Wilner is Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and a staff physician at Regional One Health in Memphis, TN. Dr. Wilner's latest book, Bullets and Brains, is a collection of over 100 essays that focus on the intersection of neurology and society. Twitter: @drwilner.

References:

1. Jeon SB, Sohn CH, Seo DW, et al. Acute Brain Lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Delayed Neurological Sequelae in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. JAMA Neurol. 2018 Jan 29. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.4618. [Epub ahead of print]