Fatal Case of Hydrocarbon Aspiration and Use of Lipoid Cells as Corroborative Finding for Rapid Autopsy Diagnosis in Cases of Delayed Death

Accidental aspiration of diesel can cause consolidation, atelectasis, and abscess formation. Aspiration of diesel usually results into pneumonitis, which resolves completely within 5–7 days of treatment. Diesel aspiration resulting in bilateral pneumonia and death is rare and is scarcely documented in literature. Finding of lipoid cells in lung autopsy specimen is one of the important features of hydrocarbon aspiration. Unfortunately this important finding is not mentioned in most of the toxicology textbooks. Hence, we are reporting this case.