Symmetrical columnar necrosis of the basal ganglia and brain stem in an adult following cardiac arrest.

Prolonged cardiac arrest resulting from a methadone overdose in an adult produced an unusual pattern of symmetrical columnar necrosis of the diencephalon and the brain stem tegmentum. This pattern of anoxic encephalopathy has previously been described in neonates, infants and in one adult case. Our description of a further case underlines the fact that under exceptional circumstances it may also occur in adults.