Diagnostic Pathology: Forensic Autopsy
- 2nd Edition - October 15, 2026
- Latest edition
- Author: Mary Ann Sens
- Language: English
This expert volume in the Diagnostic Pathology series is an excellent point-of-care resource for practitioners at all levels of experience and training. Specifically designed to a… Read more
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Description
Description
Key features
Key features
- Provides expert guidance on accurate diagnoses of the findings and patterns encountered in forensic autopsy and cause-of-death procedures, drawing on Dr. Mary Ann Sens’ 40+ years of experience as a forensic pathologist, professor, coroner, and medical examiner
- Contains all-new material on radiology and imaging, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, chronic alcoholism, endocrine-related deaths, deaths related to low weight and excessive weight, blast-injury deaths, drug-related deaths, environmental exposure, wound data and timing, cultural awareness and death rituals, and much more
- Discusses all the steps necessary to complete an accurate forensic autopsy—both routine and complex—with sections on preautopsy considerations; external/internal examinations; injuries; pediatric deaths; sudden natural deaths; special topics, such as in-custody deaths, eating disorders, and neglect; ancillary procedures; interpretive toxicology; and reports and death certificates
- Features over 1,000 high-quality images throughout (half are new to this edition) as well as nearly 1,300 additional images and videos in the complimentary eBook, including full-color illustrations, clinical images, and gross pathology photographs―all carefully annotated to highlight the most diagnostically significant factors
- Provides comprehensive information on national recommendations and industry standards from groups such as the ABMDI, NAME, and NIJ
- Features a templated, highly formatted design; concise, bulleted text; key facts in each chapter; and an extensive index for easy reference
- Offers authoritative, readable coverage for those who need to learn and understand important aspects of forensic autopsy, including coroners, medicolegal death investigators, and legal investigators
- Includes a complimentary eBook with access to everything in the print version as well as new text, videos, and hundreds of additional images and references, with the ability to search, customize your content, make notes and highlights, and have content read aloud
Readership
Readership
Table of contents
Table of contents
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC AUTOPSY
Types of Autopsies and Medical Legal Death Investigations
Historic Aspects of Anatomic Studies, Medicine, and Autopsies
Scene Investigation, Medical and Family History
Families
Mental Health
Cognition
SECTION 2: EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
External Examination and Basis for Identification
Death, Postmortem Changes, and Artifacts
Evidence Overview
Basic Radiologic Techniques in Forensic Pathology
Advanced Imaging Fundamentals
SECTION 3: ORGANS, DISEASES, AND METABOLISM
Head and CNS
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
Hepatobiliary and Exocrine Pancreas
Gastrointestinal
Genitourinary
Soft Tissue, Skin, Skeleton
Endocrine System and Syndromes
Hematopoietic System
Cachexia, Starvation, Eating Disorders, and Neglect
Metabolic Syndrome
SECTION 4: INJURIES
Asphyxia: General Concepts
Asphyxia: Specific Types
Asphyxia: Tables
Blast Injury
Blunt Force Injury
CNS Trauma
Drowning and Water Deaths
Drug-Related Deaths
Electrocution
Environmental Exposure
Firearms: Characteristics
Firearms: Ballistic Injury
Firearms: Reporting and Evidence
Firearms: Shotgun Wounds
Predation by Animals
Sharp Force Injury
Thermal (Fire) Injuries
Transportation-Related Deaths
SECTION 5: SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND DEATHS
The Negative Autopsy
Deaths in Epilepsy
Stress, Delirium, Psychosis, Drug Reactions, and Death
Deaths in Custody
Violence as Disease
Pregnancy-Associated Deaths
Stillbirth/Infanticide
Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infants
Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Childhood
Injuries in Infancy and Childhood
Synoptic Unexpected Infant/Child Death
SECTION 6: SPECIALIZED TESTING: TOXICOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, HISTOLOGY
General Toxicology Testing and Postmortem Considerations
Postmortem Chemistry
Methanol, Propanols, Glycols, and Ketones
Ethanol
Toxic Gases
Heavy Metals
Antidepressants
Drug Classes and Toxidromes
Stimulants
Opiates
Dissociatives, Empathogens, and Psychedelics
Cannabinoids and Depressants
Special Dissections and Techniques
Microbiology
Histology and Special Stains
SECTION 7: FORENSIC SPECIALISTS
Forensic Anthropology
SECTION 8: FINISHING
Autopsy Report
Death Certification: Cause
Manner of Death; NAME Guidelines
Death Certification in Disasters
Product details
Product details
- Edition: 2
- Latest edition
- Published: November 25, 2026
- Language: English