Computed Tomography Demonstration of Brain Damage Due to Acute Sodium Monofluoroacetate Poisoning

Abstract

The case reported developed an acute brain syndrome, including cerebellar signs, shortly after the ingestion of sodium monofluoroacetate. After insiduous improvement of the clinical symptoms, the patient remained with an “end-stage” cerebellar ataxia for 18 months following the acute intoxication. The development of brain atrophy, proven by computed tomography, is considered to represent a direct influence of sodium monofluoroacetate on the brain and to reflect the unique disturbances in cellular metabolism of glucose.