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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Published ahead of print on January 17, 2008
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A0966

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 29:828-829, April 2008
© 2008 American Society of Neuroradiology

Case Report
PEDIATRICS

Substantia Nigra MR Imaging Signal Changes and Cardiomyopathy Following Prenatal Exposure to Cocaine and Heroin

R. Arnold^a, C. Johnson^a, B. McNulty^b and G. Gaisie^c

^a Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine-Canton Affiliated Hospitals, Canton, Ohio
^b Department of Neuroradiology, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine-Canton Affiliated Hospitals, Canton, Ohio
^c Department of Pediatric Radiology, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, Ohio

Please address correspondence to Ryan Arnold, MD, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine-Canton Affiliated Hospitals, 2600 Sixth St SW, Canton, OH 44710; e-mail: ryanradiology{at}gmail.com

SUMMARY: Exposure to cocaine in utero results in behavioral and neurodevelopmental abnormalities that persist into adulthood. Conventional MR imaging has generally failed to reveal the expected structural lesions to explain these clinical findings. We report a case of focal MR imaging signal-intensity changes in the substantia nigra, locus ceruleus, and other selected nerve tracts and nuclei in a child exposed prenatally to cocaine and other drugs. The patient also had dilated cardiomyopathy.