Bilateral symmetrical basal ganglia infarction after intravenous use of cocaine and heroin

• Published in: Clinical imaging Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 12 - 14
• Main Authors: Daras, Michael D, Orrego, John J, Akfirat, Gokhan L, Samkoff, Lawrence M, Koppel, Barbara S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Basal Ganglia - diagnostic imaging; Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease - chemically induced; Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease - diagnosis; Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease - diagnostic imaging; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Infarction - chemically induced; Brain Infarction - diagnosis; Brain Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Cerebral infarction; Cocaine; Drug addictions; Heroin; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Symmetrical basal ganglia infarcts; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Toxicology; Cerebral infarction; Cocaine; Symmetrical basal ganglia infarcts; Heroin; Human; Drug addiction; Nervous system diseases; Intravenous administration; Infarct; Bilateral; Basal ganglion; Cerebral disorder; Case study; Ester; Central nervous system disease; Complication; Drug of abuse
• ISSN: 0899-7071; 1873-4499
• DOI: 10.1016/S0899-7071(00)00232-1

A case is reported of a young man who developed bilateral symmetrical basal ganglia infarcts after intravenous use of cocaine and heroin. Ischemic infarcts of the brain are a known complication of to cocaine use, alone or in combination with heroin (speed balling). This symmetrical occurrence of infarction, however, is unusual and has not been reported after cocaine use.