Cyanide-induced parkinsonism and F-18FDG PET/CT findings

Abstract

Parkinsonian syndrome developed in a young male following a suicide attempt with cyanide. MRI was reported as showing bilateral decreased signal on the T1 image and increased signal on the T2 image in both lentiform and caudate nuclei as well as a minimally increased signal on T1 image in the cerebellar white matter consistent with hypoxic-ischemic changes. F-18 FDG PET/CT scan of the brain demonstrated absent FDG accumulation in both putamens. There was also diminished FDG uptake in both caudate nuclei and the cerebellum. The CT scan demonstrated hypodense areas representing encephalomalacic changes both in the putamens as well as in the caudate nuclei. Similar areas were also present in the cerebellum.