title: Death by aortoesophageal fistula due to disseminated tuberculosis: a case study.
abstract: Tuberculosis remains a serious public health problem worldwide, especially in Korea. Although tuberculosis is generally considered a non-fatal chronic disease, deaths have occurred. In this case study, a 68-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with dyspepsia, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Nine hours later, he suffered severe hematemesis and died despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A medico-legal autopsy was performed and an external examination revealed no external injuries. However, an internal examination revealed an aortoesophageal fistula and a large amount of blood in the stomach. A histologic examination confirmed tuberculous mediastinitis with disseminated tuberculosis involving multiple organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen. Both an aortoesophageal fistula and sudden death due to tuberculosis infection are rare. This paper reports the case of a fatal aortoesophageal fistula associated with disseminated tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Medicine Division, Gwangju Institute, National Forensic Service Korea.
authors.forename: Joo-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Na
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Chosun University School of Medicine Korea.
authors.forename: Youn-Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo-Duk
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001344:Autopsy; D001706:Biopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006396:Hematemesis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014381:Tuberculosis, Cardiovascular / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Aortoesophageal fistula; autopsy; sudden death; tuberculosis