Sudden and unexpected infant death due to occult lymphoblastic leukaemia

doi:10.1054/jcfm.2001.0477

Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine

Volume 8, Issue 3, September 2001, Pages 160-162

https://doi.org/10.1054/jcfm.2001.0477 Get rights and content

A 16-week-old boy was found moribund in his crib. At autopsy widespread infiltration of multiple organs by lymphoblastic leukaemia (pre-B cell type) was found. Death was attributed to extensive myocardial infiltration by leukaemic cells. There was no associated intracranial haemorrhage. Home video footage taken on the day before death revealed a non-distressed and relatively normal-appearing infant. This case demonstrates an extremely rare cause of unexpected infant death and emphasizes the need for full autopsy examination in such cases. It also confirms that certain infants may have minimal or no symptoms of illness, even in the presence of severe, systemic, life-threatening disease.

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Case ReportSudden and unexpected infant death due to occult lymphoblastic leukaemia

Hum Pathol

Hematological malignancies

Sudden Death In Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence

Weights of organs offetuses and infants

Arch Pathol

Defining the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): deliberations of an expert panel convened by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Pediatr Pathol

Deaths in children with sickle cell anemia. A clinical analysis of 19 fatal instances in Chicago

Clin Pediatr

Coagulopathies and vasculopathies

Aspergillus related aortic thrombosis

Can Med Assoc J

Case Report
Sudden and unexpected infant death due to occult lymphoblastic leukaemia