Bilateral cerebellar hemorrhagic infarcts as an early presentation following opioid-induced toxic encephalopathy in an adult patient

Abstract

In the midst of the national opioid crisis, it is necessary for emergency physicians and radiologists to be familiar with presentations of opioid-related complications. We describe a case report of a 51-year-old female who developed bilateral cerebellar hemorrhages following opioid and benzodiazepine overdose. Malignant cerebellar edema is a rare but recognized complication following opiate overdose in children or chronic heroin toxicity. However, acute cerebellar involvement is rarely reported in adults. We feel that clinicians and radiologists should keep in mind the possibility of opioid toxic encephalopathy in their differential for adults with acute bilateral cerebellar infarcts and/or hemorrhages.

Keywords

• Cerebellum
• Hippocampus
• Leukoencephalopathy
• MRI
• Opioid overdose
• Opioid toxicity