ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 5

Fatal Aspiration of Sardine Fry in a Patient with Lung Cancer
Kawano, N
Pathologists, Yokohama City University School of Medicine,

Udaka, N
Pathologists, Yokohama City University School of Medicine,

Odagiri, S
Chest Physicians, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Prefectural Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center,

Amano, T
Parasitologist, Yokohama City University School of Medicine,

Inayama, Y
Pathologists, Yokohama City University School of Medicine,

Nakatani, Y
Pathologists, Yokohama City University School of Medicine,

Watanuki, Y
Chest Physicians, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Kanagawa Prefectural Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center,

(Received 22 March 1999; accepted 25 June 1999)

Abstract

We report a fatal case of death due to unusual aspiration of sardine fry in an elderly Japanese man with lung cancer. The cause of death was sudden respiratory arrest while eating. Autopsy revealed peculiar materials with cell nests and pigmented particles, together with striated muscle and skin, in the ectatic bronchioles of the left lower lobe. Serial histologic sections suggested that the structures observed were the eyeballs of small animals that appeared to have been inhaled. The patient had habitually eaten sardine fry and rice gruel, which were also detected in the gastric contents. Therefore, the eyes were considered to be those of the fry, which is a popular food item in Japan. This was confirmed by histologic examination of fry that were obtained commercially.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic pathology, aspiration, aspiration pneumonia, foreign body, food, fish, sardine fry

Paper ID: JFS14711J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14711J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.