Neuroradiological manifestations of drug use: description of clinical cases

Introduction Drug use and misuse continue to create public health challenges in the world, leading overdose deaths, infections, other chronic conditions. Illegal addictive drugs can lead functional or structural impairment of central nervous system (CNS). Because clinical findings alone are often nonspecific, some patients unlikely admit substance abuse, neuroimaging may play an important role establishing diagnosis initiating treatment. Objectives We aim provide overview imaging on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) related acute abuse commonly substances, including cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, opioids. Methods Non systematic review literature subject description three cases. Results Pathomecanisms include excitotoxicity, which subacute leukoencephalopathy, vascular complications, vasoconstriction, vasculitis, hypertension, intracranial hemorrhage ischemia. Alcohol Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, revealing MR bilateral symmetrical hyperintense signals T2-weighted; Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is a very rare condition present hypodense lesions corpus callosum; alcoholic cerebellar degeneration common type acquired ataxia volume loss localized anterior superior vermis. One our cases female, 39 years, cocaine induced multifocal associated with inflammatory/immune mediated mechanism. Other case (female, 24 years) demonstrate spongiform leukoencephalotpathy from “chasing” heroin, characteristic presentation. Conclusions The main pathomechanisms ischemia, hemorrhage, leukoencephalopathy excitotoxicity drug its derivatives. Clinical highlighting need recognize these complications at both CT imaging. Therefore, diagnostic modalities pivotal recognition timely management drug-related CNS. Disclosure Interest None Declared