Citation

Kernbach-Wighton G, Kijewski H, Sprung R, Degner D, Riegel A, Saternus KS. Aktuelle Radiol. 1998; 8(3): 131-134.

Vernacular Title

Schwermetall-Inkorporation als ungewohnliche Selbst(be)schadigung.

Affiliation

Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9645250

Abstract

A 19-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of uncharacteristic neurologic symptoms. During the first examination morphologic alterations due to an injection of mercury into the left arm and the left side of the trunk were found. The dose and the manner of application were doubtful and suspected to be a case of self-infliction. The man informed the police only 7 months later because his relatives had finally persuaded him to do so. The description of the infliction by unknown perpetrators was full of contradictions. Initially the patient gave only an indistinct description. But later on, the number of details increased. At the same time there was a change in the characteristics of the perpetrator(s). Other differences existed concerning a loss of consciousness which should have been caused by a single stroke on an arm. Furthermore, the patient told about a swelling as big as an egg, provoked by an injection of liquid mercury. It could be shown by experiments that mercury can be injected into soft-tissue very simply and that it spreaded widely. Arguments for a self-injection were e.g. the technical possibility, the topography of the injection marks, and an easy handling of the syringe. A psychiatric examination furthermore revealed, that the patient had had periods of restriction of thinking, sometimes combined with a lack of appreciation.

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