Volume 54, Issue 5 pp. 1141-1145

Sickle Cell Trait Mimicking Multiple Inflicted Injuries in a 5-Year-Old Boy

Charis Kepron M.D.,

Charis Kepron M.D.

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

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Gino R. Somers M.B.B.S., Ph.D.,

Gino R. Somers M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.

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Michael S. Pollanen M.D., Ph.D.,

Michael S. Pollanen M.D., Ph.D.

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Office of the Chief Coroner, 26 Grenville St., Toronto, ON, Canada.

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Charis Kepron M.D.,

Charis Kepron M.D.

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

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Gino R. Somers M.B.B.S., Ph.D.,

Gino R. Somers M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.

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Michael S. Pollanen M.D., Ph.D.,

Michael S. Pollanen M.D., Ph.D.

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Office of the Chief Coroner, 26 Grenville St., Toronto, ON, Canada.

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First published: 01 September 2009

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01098.x

Citations: 2

Additional information and reprint requests:
Gino R. Somers, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.
Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine
Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5G 1X8
E-mail: [email protected]

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Abstract

Abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD) and sickle cell trait (SCT) can be associated with sudden unexpected death in the pediatric population, usually due to pulmonary complications occurring within the acute chest syndrome (ACS). Musculoskeletal complications can occur and are classically limited to bone infarcts. The occurrence of bone pathology centered upon the epiphyseal growth plate in SCD/SCT is extremely rare, and multiple such injuries in a single patient have not been previously reported. Herein, we describe a case of sudden unexpected death in a 5-year-old child with undiagnosed SCT due to the ACS, with widespread epiphyseal and periosteal bone lesions mimicking multiple inflicted injuries at autopsy. This case highlights the importance of clinicopathological correlation and is the first to describe SCT pathology as a mimic of nonaccidental injury.

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Volume54, Issue5

September 2009

Pages 1141-1145

Sickle Cell Trait Mimicking Multiple Inflicted Injuries in a 5-Year-Old Boy

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Sickle Cell Trait Mimicking Multiple Inflicted Injuries in a 5-Year-Old Boy

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