RESUMEN
Although most fatal lung tumors are well diagnosed before a patient's death, occasionally forensic pathologists encounter cases of sudden death in which the presence of a primary small cell lung carcinoma was not suspected. We present the case of a 49-year-old man asymptomatic until 2 days before his death. The autopsy revealed a huge tumorous mass originating from the central bronchus, infiltrating the large vessels, pulmonary parenchyma, pericardium, and the right ventricle of the heart. Pericardial sac was distended due to pericardial effusion (700 mL). Examination also revealed metastases to the liver, pancreas, and right adrenal gland. Microscopic examination identified the primary neoplasm as a small cell lung carcinoma after common stain of hematoxylin-eosin, and additional immunohistochemistry were performed.
Asunto(s)
Taponamiento Cardíaco/etiología , Muerte Súbita/etiología , Neoplasias Cardíacas/secundario , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células Pequeñas/patología , Enfermedades Asintomáticas , Neoplasias Cardíacas/patología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Invasividad Neoplásica , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células Pequeñas/secundarioRESUMEN
The use of pure nitrogen gas to commit suicide has recently become more popular, although suicides involving nitrogen oxide fumes have been occasionally reported in the past. The cause of death in such cases is attributed to asphyxia due to forced depletion of oxygen, a subcategory of a phenomenon dubbed environmental hypoxia. A case of a 26-year-old man who committed suicide by inhaling nitrogen through a plastic bag is reported. The exact method of suicide used here is one of the many described in detail on the Web.
