Abstract
Intentional or accidental injection of mercury into soft tissue is rare. Mercury toxicity typically arises from ingestion or inhalation with instances of subcutaneous injection documented in a limited number of case studies. Most reported cases involve either accidental exposure or deliberate acts, often presenting as painful granulomas, with systemic symptoms a rarity. We present a compelling case involving a 39-year-old woman who developed a localized, painful gluteal lesion filled with mercury following multiple injections of what were purported to be multivitamin ampoules, administered by her ex-husband, a healthcare professional. Remarkably, the patient exhibited a serum mercury level of 345 μg/L without significant systemic manifestations which decreased after a course of treatment with succimer. This report highlights one of the rarest, if not the only documented instance of mercury toxicity caused by subcutaneous injection, potentially with homicidal intent.