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Case Reports
. 2014 Jan;6(1):55-7.
doi: 10.4103/0974-2727.129095.

Subcutaneous mercury injection by a child: a histopathology case report

Deepti Sukheeja  1 , Pankaj Kumar  2 , Maneesh Singhal  2 , Arulselvi Subramanian  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Subcutaneous mercury injection by a child: a histopathology case report

Deepti Sukheeja et al. J Lab Physicians. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Intentional subcutaneous injection of mercury by mentally healthy children is rare. Usually, it is seen as a part of suicidal attempt in severely depressed patients or by athletes to enhance their performance. We report a case of a 15-year-old child, inspired by a movie, who deliberately self-injected mercury subcutaneously into his forearm that led to the formation of a non-healing ulcer. Histopathology of the biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. A surgical procedure was thereby performed to treat the ulcer and reduce the blood and urinary levels of mercury. However, the patient did not develop clinical signs of chronic poisoning, proving that subcutaneous mercury injection has a low risk of systemic toxicity, and that histopathology plays an important role in diagnosis.

Keywords: Injection; mercury; subcutaneous.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Photograph showing multiple ulcers and nodules over the forearm
Figure 2
Figure 2
X-ray (anteroposterior and lateral views) showing multiple subcutaneous radioopaque deposits
Figure 3
Figure 3
Hematoxylin and eosin-stained section (×10) showing mercury droplets in the cystic spaces surrounded by chronic inflammatory cells
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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