J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1988 Dec;6(2):306-312.

A Case of Methanol Intoxication with Bulbar Palsy and Abnormal Brain CT Scans

• Sun IJ
• Cho PJ
• Sunwoo IN

Abstract

Blindness or serious visual impairment is a common and well known sequela of methanol intoxication in man, while other manifestations such as focal neurological deficits and abnormal brain CT scan are reported rarely. We experienced a case of acute methanol intoxication, which showed not only visual impairment but also bulbar symptoms and characteristic bilateral symmetrical hypodensity area in basal ganglia, especially putamen on brain CT scan. We tried 'pulse therapy'-continuouis dripping of methyl prednisolone (Solumedrol 1gm/day) for 5 days-with transient improvement of visual impairment, but bulbar symptoms were stationary. One month later, visual impairment was recurred, and the 'pulse therapy' was tried again but without benefit. On follow-up brain CT scan, the size of previous hypodensity area in basal ganglia was decreased.

MeSH Terms

Basal Ganglia
Blindness
Brain*
Bulbar Palsy, Progressive*
Follow-Up Studies
Methanol*
Prednisolone
Putamen
Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
Vision Disorders
Methanol
Prednisolone