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Alcohol-induced changes in the brain as assessed by MRI and CT

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Abstract

This review provides an overview of structural magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings of direct and indirect alcohol-related toxic effects on the brain. In addition to ethanol-related changes to the brain, this article will also describe imaging findings in the acute setting of methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning. Alcohol will lead to brain atrophy, osmotic myelinolysis, Marchiafava–Bignami disease and, especially when related to malnutrition, may also cause Wernicke encephalopathy. Brain atrophy can be reversible if alcohol abuse is stopped. If not treated, Wernicke encephalopathy can lead to coma and death and an early diagnosis is important for immediate initiation of thiamine substitution. As clinical symptoms are often unspecific, the radiologist plays an important role in the detection of alcohol abuse and its related clinical conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Sasikhan Geibprasert

  2. Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Hospital “S. Salvatore”, L’Aquila, Italy

    Massimo Gallucci

  3. Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., 3MCL – 429, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada

    Timo Krings

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  1. Sasikhan Geibprasert
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  2. Massimo Gallucci
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  3. Timo Krings
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Correspondence to Timo Krings.

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Geibprasert, S., Gallucci, M. & Krings, T. Alcohol-induced changes in the brain as assessed by MRI and CT. Eur Radiol 20, 1492–1501 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1668-z

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