Neuroimaging findings in chronic cocaine disease

Abstract

Illicit drug abuse is a growing problem for global health. The use of drugs such as cocaine can cause structural alterations in the user nervous system. The main affected areas are regions like cingulate gyrus, prefrontal cortex, dorsolateral, basal forebrain, caudate nucleus, ventral tegmentum, bridge, among others. Neuroimaging exams can show and detect ischemia and acute infarction in the corona radiate. The objective of this study was to systematically review of the main findings of neuroimaging in chronic cocaine users and the importance to monitor the patient, that is subjected to neuroimaging techniques, thus becoming an adjunct to the therapeutic conduct.