24. Sudden unexplained death in children with rare causes identified by forensic medical examination
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Abstract
From 2/2022 to 7/2022, we performed forensic examination and discovered four cases of sudden infant death due to rare, difficult to diagnose, or easily confused with other causes of death. Recroded causes of deaths were heart attack (1/4, 25%) and pulmonary embolism (3/4, 75%). To confirm the causes, we combined histological assessment with specific staining (PAS, Trichrome, and Argentophil) and immunohistochemical staining using the LCA and Myeloperoxydase markers. These methods reveal that, in the case of myocardial infarction, death was caused by fibrosis and narrowing of the arteries in the heart; and in the cases of pulmonary embolism, death was caused by acute leukemia leading to thromboembolic complications. This report provides information on the rare causes of sudden infant death and underlines the importance of pathologic assessment of causes.
Article Details
Keywords
Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood, acute myocardial infarction, Acute Leukemia
References
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