Poisoning or primary nervous system disease?--difficulties of the differential diagnosis exemplified by four different clinical cases.

TL;DRAbstract

Acute or chronic injury of the nervous system caused by xenobiotics can resemble primary disorders of the nervous system. In this study, four different cases that are characterized by unclear clinical presentation have been discussed; they required a detailed differential diagnostics using modern radiologic and electrophysiologic studies. Case 1. A young alcohol abuser was referred to the Acute Poisonings Unit at Wrocław with a presumptive diagnosis of methanol poisoning. Neither methanol nor ethylene glycol were detected in patient's serum and urine. During hospitalization in our ward he lost vision completely, and neurologic examination was consistent with a transverse spinal cord injury. Traumatic spinal cord injury coexisting with methanol poisoning, or even Devic's syndrome were considered in differential diagnosis. The MRI did not reveal a spinal cord injury, and the EMG showed severe demyelinating-axonal polyneuropathy. Finally the patient was diagnosed with methanol poisoning c

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