ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

Recommended Technique for Brain Removal to Retain Anatomic Integrity of the Pineal Gland in Order to Determine Its Size in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Coyne, CM
Associate professor, assistant medical examiner and assistant professor of pathology and research associate, University of Kentucky Medical Center, KY

Sparks, DL
Associate professor, assistant medical examiner and assistant professor of pathology and research associate, University of Kentucky Medical Center, KY

Hunsaker, JC
Associate chief medical examiner and associate professor of pathology and lab medicine, Division of Medical Examiner Services, Kentucky Justice Cabinet, KY

Sparks, LM
Associate professor, assistant medical examiner and assistant professor of pathology and research associate, University of Kentucky Medical Center, KY

(Received 28 March 1996; accepted 15 May 1996)

Abstract

A standardized removal and dissection procedure is presented for human infant brain. A previously unreported cistern of the pineal gland must be severed at autopsy in order to preserve the gland's anatomic integrity during brain removal. Utilization of these methods to investigate Sudden Infant Death Syndrome brain tissue should facilitate interdisciplinary studies and comparisons of inter agency findings. We use these dissection procedures to extend our findings on reduced pineal gland size as an anatomic marker assisting the forensic pathologist in making the diagnosis of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic pathology, pineal gland anatomy, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, brain dissection and removal

Paper ID: JFS14074J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14074J
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