The role of diffusion-weighted MRI on the study of brain complications related to heroin abuse

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Heroin has physical effects on many parts of the body, for example, respiratory and digestive system, muscles, and nervous system. Neurologic complications include brain abscess, neuropathy, transverse myelitis, and leukoencephalopathy.Magnetic resonance image is more sensitive in detecting lesions with low signal on T1W and high signal on T2W, and FLAIR images in the white matter and other areas of brain. Imaging findings are similar to other leukoencephalopathies (hereditary diseases, abnormal metabolic diseases, and intoxications).In the course of finding ways to differentiate heroin-induced spongiform leukoencephalopathy from other leukoencephalopathies, attention has been changed to diffusion magnetic resonance imaging in recent years.Nevertheless, studies do not verify that diffusion-weighted image is a valuable tool in establishing the diagnosis.