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Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology
Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 4/2016

01-12-2016 | Case Report

Sudden unexpected death from an undiagnosed histiocytic sarcoma in an adolescent female

Authors: H. R. Haynes, Z. Melegh, S. Vanjani, M. Cieka, S. Beavers, N. Rooney, B. Purdue

Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology | Issue 4/2016

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Abstract

A previously well 15-year-old female who was awaiting medical investigations for a proptosed right eye collapsed and died suddenly while walking. Postmortem examination revealed diffuse distortion and infiltration of multiple organs by a suspected neoplastic process. Histology confirmed the invasion of multiple organs by atypical cells and myocardial infiltration was the likely cause of death. An extensive panel of immunohistochemistry established the diagnosis of a histiocytic sarcoma. Sudden unexpected death due to a clinically undiagnosed neoplasia in childhood and adolescence is uncommon. This is the first report of a histiocytic sarcoma causing sudden unexpected death and highlights the importance of considering undiagnosed hematological malignancies when examining a case of sudden death at postmortem.
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Metadata
Title
Sudden unexpected death from an undiagnosed histiocytic sarcoma in an adolescent female
Authors
H. R. Haynes
Z. Melegh
S. Vanjani
M. Cieka
S. Beavers
N. Rooney
B. Purdue
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 1547-769X
Electronic ISSN: 1556-2891
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-016-9800-2

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