Methyl bromide intoxication causes reversible symmetric brainstem and cerebellar MRI lesions

Neurology. 2005 Apr 12;64(7):1279-81. doi: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000156835.12492.30.

Abstract

Methyl bromide is toxic to the central and peripheral nervous systems. A patient with occupational exposure to this agent is described. MRI showed strikingly symmetric brainstem and cerebellar lesions. The patient's clinical course and the topography and resolution of his MRI abnormalities suggest that this condition is an energy deprivation syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic / chemically induced*
  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic / diagnosis
  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic / physiopathology
  • Brain Stem / drug effects*
  • Brain Stem / metabolism
  • Brain Stem / pathology
  • Cerebellar Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Cerebellar Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cerebellar Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cerebellum / drug effects*
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • Cerebellum / pathology
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology
  • Gait Ataxia / chemically induced
  • Gait Ataxia / diagnosis
  • Gait Ataxia / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated / poisoning*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / drug effects
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / metabolism
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / pathology
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / chemically induced
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / diagnosis
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / physiopathology
  • Paresthesia / chemically induced
  • Paresthesia / diagnosis
  • Paresthesia / physiopathology
  • Peripheral Nerves / drug effects
  • Peripheral Nerves / physiopathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
  • Recovery of Function
  • Recurrence
  • Vertigo / chemically induced
  • Vertigo / diagnosis
  • Vertigo / physiopathology

Substances

  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated
  • methyl bromide