Cocaine abuse: Longitudinal MR imaging of lasting diffused leukoencephalopathy. Issue 2 (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Shuo; Manyevitch, Roni; Sedaliu, Kaltrina; Abdelbaki, Ahmed; Gupta, Nishant; Kumar, Anil; Kumar, Yogesh; Rosovsky, Mark
• Is Part Of: Neuroradiology journal. Volume 31:Issue 2(2018:Apr.)
• Page Start: 186
• Page End: 189
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Leukoencephalopathy -- MRI -- cocaine abuse -- levamisole; Nervous system -- Radiography -- Periodicals; Neuroradiography -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.804757
• DOI: 10.1177/1971400918757090
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1971-4009

Abstract

Cocaine use has been known to cause a number of adverse neurological conditions, such as cerebral ischemia and posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy. The radiologic appearance of cocaine-induced leukoencephalopathy is confounded by a common contaminant, levamisole, which is also known to cause multifocal leukoencephalopathy. However, we encountered a case of diffuse leukoencephalopathy in a patient with cocaine use that had extensive involvement of the cerebral white matter, globus pallidi as well as the cerebellum. Our case also presented with a severe clinical presentation, with the patient demonstrating minimal neurologic response after a prolonged period of critical care management. The severe clinical course and diffuse radiologic involvement of our case differs from previously reported cases of cocaine- or levamisole-induced leukoencephalopathy.