Chapters authored
Sudden Death due to Diseases of the Adrenal Glands and Paraganglia
Coroners and pathologists commonly evaluate unexpected deaths due to diseases of the adrenal glands and paraganglia, which are, unfortunately, not rare in their totality. Although cardiac causes are the main cause of sudden death, endocrine conditions can produce sudden, unexpected deaths that need further investigation, especially in younger patients. This chapter focuses on the issue of sudden death due to diseases involving adrenal glands and paraganglia. The main causes of sudden death due to adrenal gland pathology will be examined, paying particular attention to the pathophysiology of sudden death, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and their correlation with clinical features. These issues are of great interest, especially considering the clinical impact of sudden death and its rarity among patients with adrenal gland diseases. The forensic pathologist’s examination is extremely important in determining the cause of death and findings not clinically observable and can contribute to the improvement of the clinical and surgical approach in treating such patients.
Part of the book: Clinical Management of Adrenal Tumors