Imaging diagnosis of 1,2-Dichloroethane subchronic toxic encephalopathy

Objective To investigate imaging characteristics in patients with subchronic toxic encephalopathy induced by 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) and to improve the understanding of this disease. Methods CT and MRI findings of 12 patients with toxic encephalopathy induced by 1,2-DCE in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and Cangnan Hospital were retrospective study. Results CT manifestations:bilateral hemisphere white matter showed generalized and symmetry low density,blurred edge,not clear boundary between cortex and medulla,swelling gyrus,shallow groove;decreased density of bilateral globus pallidus,hind limb of the internal capsule,external capsule and thalamus;swelling brain stem and decreased density,the surrounding cisterns get narrowed by the compression;Bilateral cerebellar dentate nuclei presenting patchy and low density.MRI performance:bilateral subcortical arcuate fasciculus showed generalized and symmetric "U" shape T₁WI low signal,and T₂WI,T₂-FlAIR high signal,with gyrus narrowed and sulcus variable shallow or disappeared.Centrum semiovale was not involved in.Bilateral lentiform nucleus,external capsule,cerebellar dentate nuclei also showed that T₁WI has stripes or small flake signal,T₂WI and T₂-FLAIR had high signal.The signal of lesions area was significantly high and boundary was relatively clear in DWI sequence,whose signal was low in ADC. Conclusion The onset of Subchronic 1,2-DEC toxic encephalopathy has a specific environmental and clinical symptoms of sudden headache and the disturbance of consciousness.MR is more sensitive to the involved parts,scope,type and severity of edema as compared with CT.The certain characteristics will provide important evidence for the accurate diagnosis in time.