ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 17 August 2005
Page Count: 5

Autopsy Confirmation of Severe Pulmonary Interstitial Fibrosis Secondary to Munchausen Syndrome Presenting as Cystic Fibrosis
Palmer, CH
Presbyterian Hospital, NM

Bloch, JD
University of New Mexico, NM

Racz, MI
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, NM

Croft, PR
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, NM

(Received 8 January 2005; accepted 23 April 2005)

Abstract

Chronic factitious disorder with physical symptoms, or Munchausen syndrome, is a well-recognized but uncommonly diagnosed psychiatric condition characterized by the deliberate production of signs and symptoms of disease in order to receive medical attention. Clinical suspicion of this disease is rarely confirmed by autopsy, as the patients usually do not die as a consequence of feigning illness. Here we report the autopsy confirmation of a case of a suspected Munchausen syndrome patient who presented with a history of cystic fibrosis. Examination of the lungs demonstrated extensive severe interstitial fibrosis, and polariscopic examination revealed a large quantity of crystalline material throughout the tissue; X-ray diffraction identified the material as talc. Synopses of published cases of Munchausen syndrome presenting as cystic fibrosis, and cases of Munchausen syndrome with pulmonary talcosis are presented as part of the discussion.

Keywords:
forensic science, autopsy, Munchausen syndrome, cystic fibrosis

Paper ID: JFS2005001
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2005001
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