Severe cerebellitis following methadone poisoning.
We report a 3-year-old girl with an unusual presentation of cerebellitis following ingestion of methadone. CT showed diffuse symmetrical swelling and oedema of the cerebellum resulting in compression of the fourth ventricle and hydrocephalus. The changes were confirmed on MRI with the addition of watershed injuries. These findings represent a toxic encephalopathy and have been reported in previous cases of heroin intoxication by inhalation, but rarely following opioid ingestion. The aetiology of the watershed infarcts is discussed.
Mills
Fionnghuala
F
Department of Paediatric Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK. fionnghualamills@doctors.org.uk
MacLennan
Suzanna C
SC
Devile
Catherine J
CJ
Saunders
Dawn E
DE
D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008691:Methadone / Q000506:poisoning*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D008691:Methadone