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Death due to sickle cell crisis: a case report

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Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common hereditary hemoglobinopathy worldwide. It results in characteristic acute and chronic findings on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), macroscopic and microscopic examinations. While the diagnostic imaging and macroscopic features are not specific for SCD on their own, when coupled with microscopic features such as sickled erythrocytes and evidence of chronic venous congestion (i.e., Gamna-Gandy bodies), these clues can help alert forensic pathologists to the presence of SCD. Despite the prevalence of the disease and the constellation of findings alluded to above, SCD is not often explored in forensic pathology literature. This case demonstrates classic acute and chronic features of SCD on PMCT, macroscopic and microscopic examinations. It explores the pathophysiology leading to sudden and unexpected death in a person with SCD and possible pitfalls in attribution of cause of death.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of all the pathologist’s assistants, forensic technologists, medical imaging technologists, forensic photographers and other members involved in managing this case.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University, 76 Stuart St, Kingston, ON, K7L 2V7, Canada

    Teaghan Koster

  2. University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA

    Elizabeth Boyer

  3. Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit, Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, 25 Morton Shulman Avenue, Toronto, ON, M3M 0B1, Canada

    David J. Clutterbuck & Jayantha Herath

  4. Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    David J. Clutterbuck & Jayantha Herath

  5. Division of Physician Assistant Education, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA

    David J. Clutterbuck

  6. Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, 263 McCaul St 4th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5T 1W7, Canada

    Hadas Benhabib

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  1. Teaghan Koster
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  2. Elizabeth Boyer
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  3. David J. Clutterbuck
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  4. Hadas Benhabib
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  5. Jayantha Herath
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Teaghan Koster.

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Koster, T., Boyer, E., Clutterbuck, D.J. et al. Death due to sickle cell crisis: a case report. Forensic Sci Med Pathol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-023-00774-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-023-00774-4

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