title: Fatal case of hydrocarbon aspiration and use of lipoid cells as corroborative finding for rapid autopsy diagnosis in cases of delayed death.
abstract: Accidental aspiration of diesel can cause consolidation, atelectasis, and abscess formation. Aspiration of diesel usually results into pneumonitis, which resolves completely within 5-7 days of treatment. Diesel aspiration resulting in bilateral pneumonia and death is rare and is scarcely documented in literature. Finding of lipoid cells in lung autopsy specimen is one of the important features of hydrocarbon aspiration. Unfortunately this important finding is not mentioned in most of the toxicology textbooks. Hence, we are reporting this case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical College, Kolenchery, Cochin, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Prasad L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Jaybhaye
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Shree Nijalinggapa Medical College, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Santosh S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shilawant
keywords: Aspiration; diesel; hydrocarbon; lipoid cells; pneumonitis