Corpus Alienum captured in Post Mortem Computed Tomography, death due to an accidental ingestion of “Momos (Dumpling)”

• Published in: Forensic imaging (Online) Vol. 29; p. 200503
• Main Authors: Raj K, Dr Karthi Vignesh, Yadav, Dr Abhishek, Manivel, S., Khan, Dr Anam, Gupta, Dr Sudhir K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2022
• Subjects: Choking; Corpus alienum; Foreign body; Forensic autopsy; PMCT; Virtual autopsy; Forensic autopsy; Foreign body; PMCT; Choking; Corpus alienum; Virtual autopsy
• ISSN: 2666-2256; 2666-2256
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fri.2022.200503

•The authors have analyzed the risk factors in this case and also compared the common sites of retrieval of the corpus alienum in choking deaths.•The novelty in this case is to increase the awareness of the forensic experts, that a non-radiopaque foreign body can be well interpreted in PMCT. This could be easily missed if the history and the circumstantial evidences are not clear.•An inexperienced forensic pathologist may not suspect the hidden cause of death and easily miss the finding, if thorough dissection is not done.
: Choking is a condition where there is obstruction in the airway at any place between pharynx and bifurcation of trachea. The choking is caused by internal and external blockage. A corpus alienum or a foreign body is any object originating from outside the body. If this is too large to gain access into the trachea, then it will lodge in the posterior hypopharynx, resulting in blockage of the respiratory tract. Sudden unexpected deaths due to blockage of the airway by a large bolus of food are not very common. The incidence of asphyxia by food is found to cause 0.66 fatalities per 100,000 of the general population every year.
: Here, the authors are reporting a case, where the deceased lost his life suddenly when he was munching a momo (dumpling). India is in the initial stages of virtual autopsy and has only been started in the premier Institute of the country, All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
: This case report will help the forensic experts in interpretation and will supplement the medical literature regarding detection of foreign body lodged in upper airway using Post Mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT), and so helps in concluding the cause of death.