Journal of Clinical Pathology 2006;59:497-500
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Hypoplasia and neuronal immaturity of the hypoglossal nucleus in sudden infant death
Institute of Pathology, "Lino Rossi" Research Centre for the study and prevention of unexpected perinatal death and SIDS, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Correspondence to:
Dr Giulia Ottaviani
Institute of Pathology, University of Milan, Via della Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, Italy; giulia.ottaviani{at}unimi.it
Objective: To report the case of five month old female baby with a history of episodes of gastro-oesophageal reflux and pneumonia. Her sudden death offered a unique insight into the possible role of delayed neuronal maturation and hypoplasia of the hypoglossal nucleus in representing a likely morphological substrate of sudden death.
Methods: Morphometric analysis was carried out with an Image-Pro Plus Image analyser (Media Cybernetics) on both sides of the brain stem.
Results: Hypoplasia and neuronal immaturity of the hypoglossal nucleus were demonstrated, accompanied by hypoplasia of the arcuate nucleus.
Conclusions: Much attention should be paid to the possible role of the hypoglossal nucleus in determining a lethal outcome in infancy through impairment of deglutition and subsequent recurrent episodes of pneumonia, and as a necropsy finding.
Abbreviations: SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome
Keywords: hypoglossal nucleus hypoplasia; hypoglossal nucleus neuronal immaturity; aspiration pneumonia; passive smoking; borderline SIDS
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This article has been cited by other articles:
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Ottaviani, G
(2009). Role of post-mortem investigations in determining the cause of sudden unexpected death in infancy. Arch. Dis. Child.
94: 170-171
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