title: Myelopathy caused by nitrous oxide toxicity.
abstract: We describe a case of myeloneuropathy resulting from nitrous oxide abuse. MR imaging of the spine revealed symmetric abnormal signal in the posterior columns of the cervical cord. Myeloneuropathy is caused by inactivation of vitamin B12 by nitrous oxide. This syndrome can also be seen in patients with borderline vitamin B12 deficiency who have recently been anesthetized with nitrous oxide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pema
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Horak
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wyatt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000506:poisoning*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D014805:Vitamin B 12