Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
05:12
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
Published on: June 23, 2023
Methanol intoxication: pathological changes of central nervous system (17 cases)
Ferah Karayel1, Arzu A Turan, Aydin Sav
1Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. ferahkarayel@mynet.com
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|December 17, 2009
Summary
Methanol intoxication frequently causes central nervous system damage, including cerebral edema and petechial bleeding. Autopsy findings in 17 cases revealed significant brain lesions, highlighting the neurotoxicity of methanol.
Area of Science:
- Neuropathology
- Forensic Medicine
- Toxicology
Background:
- The central nervous system (CNS) is particularly vulnerable to methanol intoxication.
- Methanol poisoning often results from the consumption of illicit alcohol.
- Understanding the neuropathological consequences is crucial for forensic investigations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spectrum of CNS lesions associated with methanol intoxication.
- To analyze autopsy findings in cases of fatal methanol poisoning.
- To correlate observed lesions with survival times and potential contributing factors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 17 autopsy cases with confirmed methanol intoxication.
- Detailed examination of neuropathological findings in the brain.
- Documentation of lesion types, locations, and frequencies.
Main Results:
- Cerebral edema (47%) and petechial hemorrhages in the cortex, basal ganglia, and pons (53%) were common.
- Hemorrhagic necrosis occurred in the thalamus, putamen, globus pallidus (29.4%), and cerebral cortex (17.6%).
- Herniation (17.6%) and pontine bleeding (11.7%) were observed in some cases; chronic alcoholism findings were noted in 41%.
Conclusions:
- Methanol intoxication leads to a range of severe CNS lesions, including edema, hemorrhage, and necrosis.
- The observed neuropathology underscores the high neurotoxic potential of methanol.
- Forensic autopsy is critical for identifying these characteristic lesions in cases of suspected methanol poisoning.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Hepatic Encephalopathy
DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...
01:24Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions
Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
01:28Disorders of the Nervous Tissue
Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all other tissues, it is vulnerable to disorders and diseases that can significantly impact our neurological functioning.
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
01:26Toxic Reactions: Overview
When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
01:30Toxidromes: Clinical Features
Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...
01:27CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...