An Autopsy Case of Sudden Unexpected Death Due to a Glial Cyst of the Pineal Gland

作者：Na Joo Young^*; Lee Kyung Hwa; Kim Hyung Seok; Park Jong Tae

来源：American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 2014, 35(3): 186-188.

DOI：10.1097/PAF.0000000000000107

• glial cyst
• pineal gland
• unexpected sudden death
• autopsy

Pineal cysts are usually asymptomatic; however, they may rarely cause symptoms such as chronic headache, paroxysmal headache with gaze paresis, postural syncope, loss of consciousness, and sudden death. A 30-year-old woman with no specific medical history except chronic headache was found collapsed in a public toilet per se. Postmortem examination revealed no external injuries or internal diseases except a cystic lesion of the pineal gland. Histologic examination showed an internal cyst surrounded by glial tissues and pineal parenchyma that was diagnosed as a glial cyst of the pineal gland. Although the pineal cyst cannot be confirmed as the cause of death, it was considered, as no other cause was evident. Herein, we report a pineal cyst considered as an assumed cause of death.

• 出版日期2014-9