The Role of Brain Computed Tomography in Predicting Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Methanol Toxication

This study aims to assess the connection between brain CT scan results and the clinical consequences observed in individuals experiencing acute methanol toxicity. Methanol poisoning can potentially induce significant neurological harm, and utilizing brain CT imaging as a readily accessible and non-intrusive diagnostic method can supply crucial insights into the degree and seriousness of the neurological injury, thereby aiding in treatment determinations. Our retrospective study enrolled 158 patients with methanol toxicity who were admitted to our hospital between January 2018 and December 2022. Patient data, including demographics, clinical presentation, and brain CT images, were collected from electronic medical records. The patient’s brain CT images were reviewed to find cerebral edema, basal ganglia involvement, and cortical necrosis. Correlations between brain CT findings and clinical outcomes were assessed using logistic regression analysis. 124 (79.5%) patients, had abnormal findings in the brain CT images. The most common findings included cerebral edema (53.8%), basal ganglia involvement (39.7%), and cortical necrosis (25.6%). The presence of cerebral edema was significantly associated with the need for hemodialysis (OR 5.23, 95% CI 1.73-15.80, p=0.003), longer hospitalization (OR 4.12, 95% CI 1.45-11.69, p=0.008), and higher mortality (OR 7.21, 95% CI 1.47-35.29, p=0.015). Basal ganglia involvement was also significantly associated with the need for hemodialysis (OR 3.85, 95% CI 1.39-10.63, p=0.009). The presence of cerebral edema and basal ganglia involvement are significant predictors of the need for hemodialysis, longer hospitalization, and higher mortality.