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International Journal of Legal Medicine
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine 6/2020

Open Access 01-11-2020 | Autopsy | Original Article

Cerebellar heterotopia of infancy in sudden infant death syndrome: an observational neuropathological study of four cases

Authors: Jakob Matschke, Jan-Peter Sperhake, Nadine Wilke, Klaus Püschel, Markus Glatzel

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 6/2020

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Abstract

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden unexpected death of an infant < 1 year of age that remains unexplained after comprehensive workup including complete autopsy and investigation of the circumstances of death. The triple risk hypothesis posits that SIDS results as a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the background of a predisposing vulnerability. Neuropathological examination in the past has focussed mainly on the brainstem as the major player in respiratory control, where subtle findings have been linked to the chain of events leading to death in SIDS. The cerebellum has received less attention, probably due to an assumed negligible role in central cardiorespiratory control. We report four cases of SIDS in which neuropathological investigation revealed cerebellar heterotopia of infancy, a distinct malformation of the cerebellum, and discuss the potential impact of this condition on the aetiology and pathogenesis of SIDS.
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Metadata
Title
Cerebellar heterotopia of infancy in sudden infant death syndrome: an observational neuropathological study of four cases
Authors
Jakob Matschke
Jan-Peter Sperhake
Nadine Wilke
Klaus Püschel
Markus Glatzel
Publication date
01-11-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02316-x

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