title: Three unusual neuropathologic-related causes of sudden death.
abstract: We discuss the autopsy findings of three medico-legal cases of sudden death associated with uncommon neuropathologic findings of which the general forensic pathologist may not be familiar. Case 1 was a 43-year-old man who died of a seizure due to malignant melanoma of the temporal lobe associated with neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM). Case 2 was a 57-year-old woman with a history of mental retardation and incoordination because of chronic lead poisoning, who died of a pulmonary thromboembolism due to deep venous thrombosis status post left leg fracture after a fall down a staircase. Autopsy revealed atrophy and gliosis of her cerebellum as a result of childhood lead poisoning. The third patient was a 75-year-old woman who died as a result of acute bacterial leptomeningitis at the cervico-medullary junction with acute inflammation of the connective tissue of her upper cervical spinal column associated with subluxation of her atlantoaxial (AA) joint, also known as Grisel's syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Dutchess County Medical Examiner's Office, 387 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA. dchute@co.dutchess.ny.us
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Chute
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reiber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D001284:Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D005911:Gliosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000209:etiology; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D008548:Melanosis / Q000473:pathology; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020752:Neurocutaneous Syndromes / Q000473:pathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications