Determining the cause of death in children and young adults can pose considerable challenges. Professor Byard provides for the first time a complete overview of pathological aspects of sudden death in the young, from before birth to middle adult life. Highly illustrated with more than 800 colour figures, this third edition contains new sections on sexual abuse, pregnancy-related deaths and rare natural diseases, as well as expanded coverage of unexpected death in young adults up to the age of 30 years. Chapters are organised by systems and cover all aspects of natural death, as well as accidents, suicides and homicides. Supported by extensive referencing and numerous tables, the book can also be used as a practical autopsy manual. An encyclopaedic overview and analysis of sudden death in the young, this is a key text for pediatric and forensic pathologists, pediatricians, and lawyers and physicians involved in medicolegal cases.

‘This is an outstanding book for practitioners, pathologists, and researchers … Each chapter reads like a conference in which the pathologist holds the clues and answers questions from the clinician and other investigators from the autopsy table.'

R. L. Ariagno Source: New England Journal of Medicine

‘… it is the book to turn to when faced with the investigation of a sudden death in infancy or childhood, or the interpretation of findings in these cases.'

J. Keeling Source: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology

‘… a comprehensive, well written, and interesting reference book. It should be essential reading for clinicians, pathologists, policemen, social workers and lawyers.'

Source: The Lancet

‘This is an extraordinary book, physically attractive, lavishly illustrated and well organized … this book is a very significant one that belongs in every medical library, pathology department, and pediatric department.'

Source: Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

‘There can be no doubt that this second edition, even more than the previous one, is the current international benchmark in the subject - and it is likely to remain so against any potential competitors until the next edition … Some textbooks, like Gray's Anatomy and Greenfield's Neuropathology, sit monolithic and enduring in the annals of medicine - and in the turbulent and controversial waters of childhood deaths, Byard's book remains a similar beacon for those who seek guidance.'

Professor Bernard Knight - from the Foreword to the second edition

‘… a single, comprehensive source of information on virtually all aspects of sudden death in infants and children.'

V. DiMaio - Editor in Chief, American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

‘… comprehensive review by a recognized leader in pediatric forensic pathology … It will clearly become a ‘gold standard' reference.'

Source: Journal of Trauma Injury, Infection and Critical Care

‘I view this book as a benchmark in the field and a necessary requirement for forensic pathologists, pediatricians and lawyers for their own reference library.'

Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences

‘I highly recommend this book as a unique and indispensable reference for all forensic pathologists.'

S. Dana Source: American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

'I would highly recommend this book to any pathologist dealing with autopsies, be they a paediatric, forensic or general pathologist. This book not only deals with sudden young death, but with all causes including both younger and older patients, so it would be a valuable addition to any pathologist's library.'

Mary Sheppard Source: The Bulletin of The Royal College of Pathologists

'… a high-quality … enjoyable book that should be on the shelf of any paediatric and forensic pathologist. The book would also be an appropriate acquisition for the libraries of paediatricians, child protection teams, solicitors, barristers and coroners dealing with natural, suspicious or violent cases of sudden death in infancy, childhood or young age.'

Source: Medicine, Science and the Law

'… serves as an atlas and comprehensive textbook like no other of its kind … amazingly well-illustrated … this is a welcome read with well-written text rich in explanations … It is a valuable and comprehensive reference for pediatric forensic and autopsy pathologists. It should also be available to anyone who may be the first responder to a pediatric death, scene investigators and all those who are involved in the medicolegal aspects of pediatric death.'

Source: The American Journal of Surgical Pathology