Forensic Neuropathology – Helen L. Whitwell – 1st Edition

Forensic neuropathology has become increasingly important within the broader specialty of forensic pathology, and over the last decade there have been considerable advances in the field. In the area of traumatic brain injury in particular, the introduction of immunocytochemical techniques to Identifying traumatic injuries has led to a greater understanding of head injury from the neuropathological aspect in both adults and children.

In addition to traumatic brain injury, forensic neuropathologists must also consider cerebrovascular disease and neurotoxicology, as well as other conditions, such as epilepsy and other non-traumatic medical conditions, within the forensic setting. This book is not intended to be a comprehensive text on forensic pathology or neuropathology, of which there are many available today, but is intended solely to highlight for the reader areas where difficulties may arise in the medico-legal environment. Includes descriptions of techniques that may be useful in postmortem examination or brain dissection, as well as blocking schedules for common disorders that require detailed neuropathological examination.

The book also introduces the biomechanical aspects of head injuries: these are becoming increasingly important and will no doubt require more detailed discussion in a future edition. The book is intended for a variety of readers, including not only forensic pathologists but also neuropathologists with limited experience in forensic pathology, general pathologists, clinical forensics specialists, and neuroscientists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons.