title: Bluish discolouration of stomach in dextropropoxyphene poisoning: an unusual finding at autopsy and discussion of differential diagnosis.
abstract: Many times at autopsy, on the basis of colour change of the stomach and intestinal mucosa, the forensic pathologist is able to suspect a particular nature of poisoning which leads to conclusive investigation of the case. An intense bluish discolouration of the gastric mucosa owing to capsule shell instead of the content is rarely encountered at autopsy. We report a case of fatal dextropropoxyphene poisoning, where gastric and small intestinal mucosa showed bluish discolouration owing to the gelatine capsule of the drug. Other causes of bluish discolouration of gastrointestinal tract mucosa at autopsy are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rajanikanta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swain
authors.forename: Saumyaranjan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallick
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Behera
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Murty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000506:poisoning*; D001344:Autopsy; D003116:Color; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene / Q000506:poisoning*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene