SUBCUTANEOUS METALLIC MERCURY INJECTION - EARLY, MASSIVE EXCISION

The case of a patient who injected 10 cc of metallic mercury subcutane ously into his left forearm through multiple punctures in an attempt a t suicide is presented, Diagnosis was made by plain radiography of his left forearm, which exhibited redness, edema, and tenderness on the t hird day postinjection. Early excision of all affected subcutaneous ti ssues including metallic mercury deposits was performed on the fifth d ay postinjection. Blood and urine mercury levels that were initially f ound in high levels decreased dramatically to normal ranges after the excision and remained unchanged at the follow-up period of 6 months. N o renal or hepatic functional impairment was encountered. The patient was free of toxic symptoms and mercury embolism. The local, aseptic ly tic property of metallic mercury, which could cause severe damage to v ital structures, was observed perioperatively. Early diagnosis and ear ly, massive excision of mercury deposits in affected tissues is the im portant treatment modality in these rare cases.