Autopsy findings of SUDEP in adolescence

ABSTRACT

@#Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a rare in children; the risk of SUDEP in children is up to 10-fold less than adults. Herein, we report a case of SUDEP in a 14-year-old boy. The post-mortem findings in neuropathological examination in SUDEP are not pathognomonic. Tongue and lip bites marks are only an indication of a seizure before death. Basically, there are no lesions that could explain the incidence of seizures before death. However, post-mortem examination is mandatory in order to determine the diagnosis of SUDEP. Autopsy, histopathological, and toxicologic examinations and a proper medical history of epilepsy are required to come to diagnosis of SUDEP. This case report further demonstrates the importance of medicolegal autopsy in allegedly dead victims.