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A case of cerebral hypoplasia/dysplasia detected at autopsy
Insights
A 2-year-old girl with cerebral hypoplasia died suddenly. Autopsy revealed pneumonia as the cause of death, highlighting a rare congenital malformation in forensic cases.
Area of Science:
- Neuropathology
- Forensic Pathology
Background:
- Cerebral hypoplasia/dysplasia is a rare congenital malformation.
- Sudden death in infants necessitates thorough autopsy examination.
- Epileptiform anomalies can be associated with underlying brain malformations.
Observation:
- A 2-year-old girl with a history of multifocal epileptiform anomaly was found deceased.
- Autopsy revealed left hemisphere hypoplasia with gyral shrinkage and enlarged sulci.
- Histopathology showed cortical dysplasia, including microgyria, disordered stratification, and dysmorphic neurons.
Findings:
- Pneumonia was identified as the cause of death.
- The case presented a rare instance of cerebral hypoplasia evaluated during a forensic autopsy.
- Associated cortical dysplasia indicated a significant congenital brain malformation.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering congenital brain malformations in unexplained sudden deaths.
- It highlights the diagnostic challenges and significance of neuropathological findings in forensic investigations.
- Further research into the link between cerebral hypoplasia and sudden death is warranted.
Unlabelled:
Presented case was a 2-year-old baby girl who had been treated for nearly one year with the indication of multifocal epileptiform anomaly. She was found dead in her bed in morning hours, autopsy was planned after prosecutors investigation. On internal autopsy examination, shrinkage of gyral structures in the frontal, and parietal lobes of the left hemisphere, markedly enlarged sulci, and a hypoplastic appearance were noted. Histopathological examination revealed evidence of pneumonia, brain exposed microgyral formations, disordered cortical stratification, hypercellularity, dysmorphic neuronal structures, balloon cells with diagnosis of cortical dysplasia. Pneumonia was reported as a cause of death. We aimed to discuss in the light of the literature a case with cerebral hypoplasia which is rarely seen at forensic autopsies.
Keywords:
cerebral hypoplasia/dysplasia - autopsy - congenital malformation - sudden death.
