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Emoto Y, Yoshizawa K, Shikata N, et al. Autopsy results of a case of ingestion of sodium hydroxide solution. J Toxicol Pathol. 2015;29(1):45-7doi: 10.1293/tox.2015-0049.
Emoto, Y., Yoshizawa, K., Shikata, N., Tsubura, A., & Nagasaki, Y. (2016). Autopsy results of a case of ingestion of sodium hydroxide solution. Journal of toxicologic pathology, 29(1), 45-7. https://doi.org/10.1293/tox.2015-0049
Emoto, Yuko, et al. "Autopsy results of a case of ingestion of sodium hydroxide solution." Journal of toxicologic pathology vol. 29,1 (2016): 45-7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1293/tox.2015-0049
Emoto Y, Yoshizawa K, Shikata N, Tsubura A, Nagasaki Y. Autopsy results of a case of ingestion of sodium hydroxide solution. J Toxicol Pathol. 2016 Jan;29(1):45-7. doi: 10.1293/tox.2015-0049. Epub 2015 Sep 25. PMID: 26989301; PMCID: PMC4766079.
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J Toxicol Pathol. 2016 Jan;29(1):45-7. doi: 10.1293/tox.2015-0049. Epub 2015 Sep 25.

Autopsy results of a case of ingestion of sodium hydroxide solution.

Journal of toxicologic pathology

Yuko Emoto, Katsuhiko Yoshizawa, Nobuaki Shikata, Airo Tsubura, Yasushi Nagasaki

Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology II, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan; Medical Examiner's Office of Hyogo Prefecture, 2-1-31 Arata-machi, Hyogo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0017, Japan.
  2. Department of Pathology II, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan.
  3. Division of Diagnostic Cytopathology and Histopathology, Kansai Medical University Takii Hospital, 10-15 Fumizono, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8507, Japan.
  4. Medical Examiner's Office of Hyogo Prefecture, 2-1-31 Arata-machi, Hyogo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0017, Japan.

PMID: 26989301 PMCID: PMC4766079 DOI: 10.1293/tox.2015-0049

Abstract

Sodium hydroxide is a strongly corrosive alkali. We describe herein a case of suicide by ingestion of sodium hydroxide. A man in his 80s was found dead with a mug and a bottle of caustic soda. Macroscopically, liquefaction and/or disappearance of esophagus, trachea and lung tissue and a grayish discoloration of the mucosa of the stomach were seen along with blackish brown coloration of the skin, mouth, and oral cavity. The contents of the gastrointestinal tract showed a pH level of 7-8 on pH indicator strips. Histopathologically, liquefactive necrosis of remnant lung tissue and the stomach were seen. As biological reactions such as vasodilatation and inflammation were not detected in these organs, only a short number of hours must have passed between ingestion and death. This human case provides valuable information concerning the direct irritation induced by systemic exposure to corrosive substances.

Keywords: autopsy; chemical burn; histopathology; sodium hydroxide; suicide

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