Bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax secondary to aspiration pneumonia induced by a wristwatch lodged at the pharyngoesophageal junction

Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
Chihiro KawaiKeiji Tamaki

Abstract

Bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax secondary to disease is rare and seldom encountered in forensic autopsies; however, traumatic bilateral pneumothorax occurs often. Herein, we present a forensic case involving a 50-year-old woman who died 4 days after ingesting a wristwatch. Postmortem computed tomography and autopsy findings demonstrated that the wristwatch was lodged at the pharyngoesophageal junction, that she had a bilateral pneumothorax unaccompanied by any thoracic wound, and that macular hemorrhagic lesions on the lung surfaces were responsible for the pneumothorax. A histological examination of the macular lesions revealed that they were aspiration pneumonia foci with many birefringent foreign materials. Furthermore, a necrotic process secondary to aspiration pneumonia with a one way check-valve hyperinflation caused by foreign materials in the bronchioles was the most probable pathogenesis of her pneumothorax. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a bilateral secondary spontaneous pneumothorax caused by a large foreign body at the pharyngoesophageal junction leading to death.

References

Nov 1, 1992·American Journal of Surgery·M A Wait, A Estrera
Apr 1, 1994·Chest·E Graf-Deuel, A Knoblauch
May 16, 2000·Chest·D Weissberg, Y Refaely
Jul 27, 2001·Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine·B Afessa
Jul 1, 2004·Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries·G AlexanderI Ghoneim
Sep 28, 2004·Surgery Today·Güven SunamHasan Solak
Jun 2, 2006·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·Anny Sauvageau, Rose Yesovitch
Jun 13, 2009·Critical Care : the Official Journal of the Critical Care Forum·Nalan AdigüzelMartin J Tobin
Mar 2, 2010·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·Margaret Redpath, Anny Sauvageau
Sep 28, 2010·The Annals of Thoracic Surgery·Hanghang Wang, William C Nugent
Jan 25, 2011·Respiratory Care·Masoud ShamaeiMohammad Reza Masjedi
May 27, 2011·Indian Journal of Pediatrics·Sudhanshu GroverSunit C Singhi
Sep 13, 2011·Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine·Alison GreenBeng Beng Ong
Dec 16, 2011·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Fidelia CasciniIlaria Scafetta
Feb 9, 2013·BMJ Case Reports·Karan MadanNavneet Singh
Mar 2, 2013·Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery : Official Publication of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India·Subramanian SenthilkumaranPonniah Thirumalaikolundusubramanian
Mar 16, 2013·Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock·Girish NarayanK Prabhakar

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations


❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.