Gross and Histopathological Findings of Stomach in Cases of Fatal Poisonings Reported at a Tertiary Care Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v17i3.19468Keywords:
Poisoning, Suicide, Stomach histopathology, Autopsy, Chemical AnalysisAbstract
Poisoning deaths are a major public health concern in India because of intentional consumption of toxic substances
to commit suicide. Poisoning related mortality is huge compared to the morbidity in our country. This is one of
the reasons for more number of poisoning cases in our autopsy work. Undoubtedly, autopsy is a very essential
tool in knowing the exact cause of death in all these cases. The gross and histopathological examination of postmortem
specimens is crucial for the accurate identification of the cause of poisoning-related deaths along with
chemical analysis. In this autopsy-based study, we investigate the gross and histopathological changes in the
stomach associated with poisoning caused by various substances, including pesticides, corrosive substances, and
medications.
The study included 118 poisoning fatality cases autopsied at Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad. The main
objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different poisonings on the stomach wall by conducting
gross and histopathological examination of gastric tissue. In addition, the study aimed to evaluate the potential
use of stomach pathology findings as a diagnostic criterion for various poisonings and to establish a correlation
between these findings and the chemical analysis of viscera data. The sociodemographic data, circumstances of
poisoning and reasons for suicide were also studied.
The study revealed that the major gross changes observed in the stomach were congestion, erosion, haemorrhage,
and paleness, listed in descending order of occurrence. Similarly, the major histopathological findings identified
in the stomach were congestion, gastritis, necrotic changes, and submucosal haemorrhages, listed in descending
order of frequency.
In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the effects of different poisonings on the stomach wall
through gross and histopathological examination of gastric tissue. The findings indicate that while gross and histopathological findings alone may not be sufficient for diagnosis, they can be used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools to accurately identify the cause of poisoning-related deaths. Moreover, the study suggests that the development of gastric mucosa specific immunohistochemistry techniques may offer a promising on-spot diagnostic tool for poisoning cases.
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