Question:

Chocolate brown postmortem staining is seen in?

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Chocolate brown means methaemoglobin from an oxidising agent.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • KCl poisoning
  • Opium poisoning
  • H2S poisoning
  • Cyanide poisoning
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The colour of postmortem lividity (hypostasis) gives a clue to the cause of death, because it reflects the form of haemoglobin present in the blood after death.

Step 2: Chocolate brown postmortem staining indicates methaemoglobin formation. Poisons that oxidise haemoglobin to methaemoglobin, such as potassium chlorate and related agents, produce this brownish discolouration. Among the options, KCl (potassium salts in this poisoning context) is the answer linked to chocolate brown staining.

Step 3: The distractors give different colours. Cyanide poisoning gives bright cherry red lividity because of cyanmethaemoglobin and retained oxyhaemoglobin. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gives a greenish or bluish-green colour from sulphaemoglobin. Opium does not classically produce a characteristic chocolate brown stain.

Step 4: Because chocolate brown corresponds to methaemoglobinaemia produced in this poisoning, option (a) is correct.
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