Citation

Gilliland MG, Levin AV, Enzenauer RW, Smith C, Parsons MA, Rorke-Adams LB, Lauridson JR, La Roche GR, Christmann LM, Mian M, Jentzen J, Simons KB, Morad Y, Alexander R, Jenny C, Wygnanski-Jaffe T. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2007; 28(4): 323-329.

Affiliation

Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Zrifin, Israel. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; and Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0b013e31815b4c00

PMID

18043020

Abstract

Postmortem examination is a cornerstone in identifying the cause of unexplained sudden death in children. Even in cases of suspected or known abuse, an autopsy may help characterize the nature of the abuse, which is particularly important in the forensic autopsy of children in the first 3 to 4 years of life when inflicted neurotrauma is most common. Forensic examinations are vital in cases that might otherwise be diagnosed as sudden infant death syndrome. The ocular autopsy in particular may demonstrate findings that were not appreciated on antemortem clinical examination. This protocol for postmortem examination of the eyes and orbits was developed to promote more consistent documentation of findings, improved clinical and forensic decision making, and more replicable and coherent research outcomes.

Language: en