Titanium pigment in tissues of drug addicts: report of 5 necropsied cases

Authors

  • Marcus Aurelho de Lima Faculty of Medicine of the 'Triângulo Mineiro'; Department of Internal Medicine and Discipline of Pathology; Discipline of Endocrinology
  • Vitorino Modesto dos Santos Faculty of Medicine of the 'Triângulo Mineiro'; Department of Internal Medicine and Discipline of Pathology; Discipline of Endocrinology
  • Samia Demachki Faculty of Medicine of the 'Triângulo Mineiro'; Department of Internal Medicine and Discipline of Pathology; Discipline of Endocrinology
  • Javier Lazo Faculty of Medicine of the 'Triângulo Mineiro'; Department of Internal Medicine and Discipline of Pathology; Discipline of Endocrinology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0041-87812004000200007

Keywords:

Titanium, Drug addiction, Propoxyphene hydrochloride, Talc, Necropsy

Abstract

The aim of this report is to describe the anatomic-pathologic findings from necropsies of 5 drug addicts with titanium pigment in several organs after chronic intravenous injection of crushed propoxyphene hydrochloride tablets. Samples from liver, spleen, lungs, lymph nodes, and bone marrow were obtained, and after being grossly studied, they were submitted to evaluation using common light and polarized microscopy. In all 5 cases, a pigment with characteristics of titanium dioxide was found within tissue samples of the organs studied. Our findings suggest that research concerning titanium pigment within body tissues should be enhanced, considering the potential contribution of this morphologic data to forensic pathology.

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Published

2004-01-01

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 2 (2004)

Section

Case Reports

How to Cite

Lima, M. A. de, Santos, V. M. dos, Demachki, S., & Lazo, J. (2004). Titanium pigment in tissues of drug addicts: report of 5 necropsied cases . Revista Do Hospital Das Clínicas, 59(2), 86-88. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0041-87812004000200007