Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Detecting Glufosinate Ammonium Intoxication: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Toxicology
• Radiology

Background:

• Glufosinate ammonium herbicides are widely used non-selective agents.
• Increased herbicide use correlates with rising cases of acute intoxication, often from suicide attempts.

Observation:

• A patient presented with symptoms following glufosinate ammonium intoxication.
• Brain diffusion-weighted MRI revealed specific abnormalities.

Findings:

• The patient exhibited cytotoxic edema.
• Affected areas included the posterior limbs of bilateral internal capsules, bilateral middle cerebellar peduncles, and splenium of the corpus callosum.

Implications:

• This case highlights a potential neurotoxic effect of glufosinate ammonium.
• Diffusion-weighted MRI is crucial for diagnosing and characterizing brain injury in glufosinate ammonium poisoning.
• Understanding these MRI findings aids in clinical management and prognosis assessment.