CNS nontumor

Toxic and metabolic disorders

Heroin leukoencephalopathy



Last author update: 1 April 2015
Last staff update: 2 December 2024 (update in progress)

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PubMed Search: Heroin [title] CNS


Kymberly A. Gyure, M.D.
Cite this page: Gyure K.A. Heroin leukoencephalopathy. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/cnsheroin.html. Accessed December 23rd, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Toxic leukoencephalopathy secondary to the use of inhaled heroin or "chasing the dragon"
Sites
  • White matter including cerebellar white matter
Pathophysiology
  • Heating of heroin is thought to activate a lipophilic compound that damages white matter
Clinical features
  • Stage 1: predominantly cerebellar symptoms
  • Stage 2: cerebellar and extrapyramidal symptoms
  • Stage 3: progressive spasms, akinetic mutism and death
Radiology description
  • Increased signal on T2 weighted and FLAIR MR images in white matter, including cerebellar white matter with sparing of the dentate nucleus
Radiology images

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Axial FLAIR sequences

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Increased T2 signal

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Axial gadolinium enhanced T1 sequences

Case reports
Treatment
  • Supportive care
Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Myelin loss / vacuolation - "spongiform encephalopathy"
  • Inflammatory infiltrate consisting of macrophages with associated perivascular chronic inflammation
Microscopic (histologic) images

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Cerebral cortical gray matter

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Perivascular inflammation: lymphocytes and macrophagess

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Gradual loss of myelination

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Marked loss of axons

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Intense macrophage infiltration

Differential diagnosis
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