An Autopsy Case of Sudden Death Due To Adrenal Crisis Caused By Pulmonary Tuberculosis Complicated With Adrenal Tuberculosis

Background: Adrenal tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose due to non-specific symptom. Sudden death due to adrenal crisis after trauma surgery is rare to be seen. Case presentation: A 45-year-old man, who was admitted to hospital because of trauma of right hand, died suddenly on the 13th day after replantation of amputated fingers. He was diagnosed with brain edema and diluted hyponatremia. Autopsy and histopathologic examination revealed severe brain edema combined with cerebellar tonsillar hernia, extensive destruction of adrenal gland caused by bilateral adrenal tuberculosis and right lung invasive pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusions: : Trauma and pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with adrenal tuberculosis induced the adrenal crisis, which eventually lead to severe cerebral edema and hernia, and finally death from respiratory and circulatory failure. This autopsy and histopathologic examination suggested a possible pathophysiologic mechanism of sudden death due to diluted hyponatremia after trauma surgery.