Unexpected death from hepatic abscess 16 months after toothbrush ingestion. Issue 5 (14th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Guoting; Zhao, Shuquan; Wang, Songjun; Liu, Xia; Qi, Qian; Li, Yingmin; Zuo, Min
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic sciences. Volume 67:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 2110
• Page End: 2114
• Publication Date: 2022-06-14
• Subjects: autopsy -- foreign body ingestion -- forensic pathology -- hepatic abscesses -- prisoner -- toothbrush; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; 363.2505
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15079
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1198

Abstract

Abstract: The development of a hepatic abscess secondary to foreign body (FB) ingestion remains rare in forensic practice. Herein, we present a case of a prisoner who died in the hospital and a forensic autopsy was performed to confirm the cause of death. A 14.5‐cm‐long toothbrush handle was found in the duodenum and had penetrated the right lobe of the liver, consistent with the repeated abdominal pain in his clinical history. The clinical history and investigation confirmed that he had ingested the toothbrush handle 16 months prior. This case highlights a rare complication of intentional ingestion of foreign bodies, and pathologists should be aware of this rare entity which links hepatic abscess and FB ingestion.