Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (대한자기공명의과학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Brain MRI Findings of Nitrogen Gas Inhalation for Suicide Attempt: a Case Report

  • Received : 2017.09.18
  • Accepted : 2017.10.12
  • Published : 2017.12.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

South Korea has the highest reported suicide rate among all countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless and nontoxic gas. Nitrogen gas has, however, been recently used as a method of attempted suicide, its nontoxity notwithstanding. We herein report on an unusual case involving a 30-year-old male who presented with symptoms after a suicide attempt by nitrogen inhalation. Diffusion-weighted imaging of his brain was showed curvilinear high signal intensity in the bilateral frontal and right occipital cortices, with subtle low apparent diffusion coefficient value. In addition, T2-weighted images and fluid attenuated inversion recovery images revealed subtle high signal intensity in the bilateral frontal cortices, basal ganglia and occipital cortices with contrast enhancement.

Keywords

References

  1. OECD. Health at a Glance 2015: OECD indicators, OECD Publishing, Paris. 2015
  2. Madentzoglou MS, Kastanaki AE, Nathena D, Kranioti EF, Michalodimitrakis M. Nitrogen-plastic bag suicide: a case report. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2013;34:311-314 https://doi.org/10.1097/PAF.0000000000000049
  3. USCSB, 2003. Safety Bulletin: Hazards of Nitrogen Asphyxiation, No. 2003-10-B, June 2003
  4. Harding BE, Wolf BC. Case report of suicide by inhalation of nitrogen gas. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2008;29:235-237 https://doi.org/10.1097/PAF.0b013e318183240c
  5. DiPoce J, Guelfguat M, DiPoce J. Radiologic findings in cases of attempted suicide and other self-injurious behavior. Radiographics 2012;32:2005-2024 https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.327125035
  6. Kamtchum Tatuene J, Pignel R, Pollak P, Lovblad KO, Kleinschmidt A, Vargas MI. Neuroimaging of diving-related decompression illness: current knowledge and perspectives. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2014;35:2039-2044 https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A4005
  7. White ML, Zhang Y, Helvey JT, Omojola MF. Anatomical patterns and correlated MRI findings of non-perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Br J Radiol 2013;86: 20120464 https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.20120464
  8. Huang BY, Castillo M. Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury: imaging findings from birth to adulthood. Radiographics 2008;28:417-439; quiz 617 https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.282075066
  9. Maurya VK, Ravikumar R, Bhatia M, Rai R. Hypoxicischemic brain injury in an adult: magnetic resonance imaging findings. Med J Armed Forces India 2016;72:75-77 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mjafi.2015.06.016
  10. Tur FC, Aksay E. Asphyxia due to accidental nitrogen gas inhalation: a case report. Hong Kong J Emerg Med 2012;19:46-48 https://doi.org/10.1177/102490791201900108