It is not often that a CT will be able to give you a hint to a toxicologic diagnosis. The following are CT findings that are either suggestive and even sometimes almost diagnostic for a given to toxin:
1) Intraparenchymal or Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: sympathomimetics or mycotic anuerysm rupture secondary to IV drug abuse
2) Basal Ganglia bilateral focal necrosis: characteristic of carbon monoxide, cyanide, hydrogen sulfide and even methanol
3) Severe advanced atrophy out of proportion for age: alcoholism, toluene
References
Adapted from Goldfranks Textbook of Toxicologic Emergencies 8th edition, p.82 Table 6-5.
