title: CT imaging of gastric and hepatic complications after ingestion of glacial acetic acid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the computed tomographic (CT) image features of gastric and hepatic complications after ingestion of glacial acetic acid.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 5 patients (2 men and 3 women; age range, 2-84 years) who had ingested glacial acetic acid to commit suicide or accidentally. Their abdominal and chest CT scans were retrospectively reviewed to detect and evaluate visceral organ injury. Clinical and laboratory data were also reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diffuse edematous wall thickening of esophagus and stomach was observed in all patients. Three patients showed nonenhancing, wedge-shaped low densities in the liver on portal venous phase abdominal CT scans. These 3 patients also showed laboratory findings to indicate hepatic failure, hemolysis, metabolic acidosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Two of these patients died despite vigorous supportive treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wedge-shaped low densities can be seen in the liver on CT scans after ingestion of glacial acetic acid. They may represent hepatic necrosis caused by the direct effect of toxic materials absorbed into portal circulation.
authors: Department of Radiology, Sunlin Hospital, Handong University School of Medicine, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea.
authors: Seog Joon
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Sung Bum
authors: SB
authors: Cho
authors: Jae Min
authors: JM
authors: Cho
authors: Myung Jin
authors: MJ
authors: Chung
authors: Sang Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Paik
authors: So Young
authors: SY
authors: Kim
authors: Deuk Jae
authors: DJ
authors: Sung
authors: Yun Hwan
authors: YH
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000506:poisoning*; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019342:Acetic Acid