Korean J Leg Med.  2020 Feb;44(1):37-40. 10.7580/kjlm.2020.44.1.37.

Lung Pathology in Septic Shock with Leukopenia

• Huh GY

• KMID: 2471743
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2020.44.1.37

Abstract

Sepsis-related deaths are occasionally encountered in forensic practice. However, forensic pathologists are reluctant to use the terminology "sepsis" or "septic shock" as a cause of death because of the lack of definite morphological evidence. When sepsis is considered a cause of death, pathologic assessment is essential to identify the foci of infection or consequences of sepsis, such as diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). Pneumonia is known to be a common source of sepsis and can develop into DAD with progression of sepsis. The histology of DAD varies according to the immunologic status. An autopsy of a 55-year-old man who died of septic shock with leukopenia revealed only abundant gram-negative bacilli in the alveoli without typical DAD pathology.

Keyword

Septic shock; Leukopenia; Lung; Pathology; Diffuse alveolar damage

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Cause of Death
Humans
Leukopenia*
Lung*
Middle Aged
Pathology*
Pneumonia
Sepsis
Shock, Septic*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Section of the enlarged lungs shows consolidations on the upper lobe of the left lung and middle lobe of the right lung and reveals oily mucoid material exuded on the surface.

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  Fig. 2 (A) Dilated alveoli are filled with proteinaceous material and foamy macrophages (H&E, × 100). (B) Medium-power view shows abundant gram-negative bacilli in the alveoli, without neutrophilic infiltrate and hyaline membrane formation (H&E, × 200).

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