Investig Magn Reson Imaging.  2017 Dec;21(4):264-268. 10.13104/imri.2017.21.4.264.

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

• Kim YE
• Lee D
• Kim M
• Hwang H

• KMID: 2400381
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13104/imri.2017.21.4.264

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.

Keyword

Nitrogen; Suicide; Magnetic resonance imaging

MeSH Terms

Adult
Basal Ganglia
Brain*
Diffusion
Frontal Lobe
Humans
Inhalation*
Korea
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Male
Methods
Nitrogen*
Occipital Lobe
Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
Suicide*
Suicide, Attempted
Nitrogen

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A 30-year-old man after suicide attempt by nitrogen inhalation through a plastic bag. (a,b) Diffusion-weighted image shows curvilinear high signal intensity (SI) in the bilateral frontal and right occipital cortices. (c, d) Apparent diffusion coefficient map shows low value in the bilateral frontal and right occipital cortices.

• 

  Fig. 2 Follow-up MRI (ten days later), FLAIR image shows curvilinear high signal intensity in the bilateral frontal and bilateral basal ganglia. FLAIR = fluidattenuated inversion recovery

• 

  Fig. 3 Follow-up MRI (ten days later). (a) Axial T1-weighted MR image shows iso-signal intensity in the bilateral occipital cortices. (b) Axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR image shows irregular enhancement in the bilateral occipital cortices.

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