AUTOPSY CASE OF DUODENAL OBSTRUCTION FROM IMPACTED MUSHROOM

We report an autopsy case of duodenal bulb obstruction caused by a shi itake mushroom. A 74-year-old woman with depression was admitted to th e hospital after suffering nausea and abdominal fullness for 3 days. B ecause the physical findings and laboratory data on admission revealed marked dehydration, lactated Ringer's solution was administered. Twel ve hours later, the patient suddenly died. Autopsy showed an enlarged stomach filled with 850 mi of partially digested food. In the anal sid e of the pylorus, a 9-cm-diameter shiitake mushroom had become impacte d, causing complete obstruction. We conclude that the patient suffered from duodenal bulb obstruction caused by the impacted mushroom and su bsequently died of ileus. This case illustrates a rare cause of duoden al obstruction and emphasizes that ingested food can cause obstructive ileus and death.