Bone marrow embolism to the lung in electrocution : two case reports

Abstract

Bone marrow embolism in electrocution was first described in the literature by Rappaport et al (Am J Pathol. 1951;27(3):407Y433) in 1951. Two case studies demonstrating this phenomenon are reported here, one involving high-voltage exposure with associated skeletal in-juries and the other involving domestic current and without evidence of skeletal injury. Both cases demonstrated bone marrow embolism on histologic examination of the lungs. The purposes of this article are to reiterate the existence of this unusual phenomenon and to consider possible pathogenetic mechanisms.