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[Mercury pulmonary embolism. Two case reports]
C Papadopoulos1, N Vasile, J P Richard
1Département Pneumologie, Hôpital de Villiers Saint-Denis.
Revue De Pneumologie Clinique
|June 15, 1999
Summary
Metallic mercury pulmonary embolism is rare but serious. Symptoms include acute lung issues and characteristic chest X-ray findings, often linked to intentional intravenous injections.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Metallic mercury pulmonary embolism is an uncommon but potentially severe complication.
- It can result from accidental or intentional intravenous injection of mercury.
Observation:
- Clinical presentation is often subtle, with acute pneumonopathy observed in approximately 50% of cases.
- Radiographic findings typically include multiple, bilateral, punctate opacities with metallic density on chest X-ray.
Findings:
- The study presents two cases of mercury pulmonary embolism following intentional intravenous mercury injection.
- One case involved an attempted suicide, and the other involved an HIV-positive intravenous drug user.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering mercury toxicity in patients with unexplained pulmonary symptoms and specific exposure history.
- Emphasizes the diagnostic utility of chest radiography in identifying metallic foreign bodies in the pulmonary vasculature.
- Underscores the severe health risks associated with intentional intravenous injection of metallic mercury.