Paraquat Poisoning with Negative chemical Analysis - Forensic Value of Gross Autopsy Findings in the Pancreas

Abstract

A middle-aged male, farmer by occupation, presented with respiratory distress and severe vomiting following the ingestion of herbicide, which was paraquat. He deteriorated to metabolic acidosis and acute kidney injury and died on day three after ingestion. The toxicological study of viscera was negative, probably as a result of the rapid clearance of paraquat in tissues. Autopsy showed haemorrhagic foci in the stomach, foci under the cap of liver, haemorrhage of the lungs and significant pancreatic haemorrhage, which is a rare observation in paraquat poisoning. Hepatic steatosis, acute tubular necrosis and pancreatic haemorrhage were confirmed through histopathology reports. The pancreatic haemorrhage can be used as new forensic evidence of systemic paraquat toxicity and this makes it crucial that medicolegal studies should be carried out to verify such findings.