Diagnostic Pathology: Forensic Autopsy
- 2nd Edition - April 30, 2026
- Latest edition
- Author: Mary Ann Sens
- Language: English
- Hardback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 3 7 8 8 4 - 3
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 3 7 8 8 5 - 0
Most forensic autopsies are performed by hospital-based pathologists and other non-forensic pathology practitioners who have little or no forensic pathology training. Due to this… Read more
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Most forensic autopsies are performed by hospital-based pathologists and other non-forensic pathology practitioners who have little or no forensic pathology training. Due to this lack of training, all pathologists who perform forensic autopsies need access to easy to understand details about identification of scene elements and best procedures to help them correctly diagnose the findings and patterns they see for each death encountered. In Diagnostic Pathology: Forensic Autopsy 2e, Mary Ann Sens, MD, PhD contributes over 20 years experience as a forensic pathologist, professor, and experienced coroner and medical examiner, and provides details that will sidestep the lack of standardization which exists for procedures, required reporting, and overall process. The 2e provides chapters organized by manner of death and delivers comprehensive methods of scene investigation and all details to consider including internal and external examinations, photography, toxicology and ancillary studies to consider including photography, toxicology, microbiology and chemistry. Methods of identification and evidence collection are also covered for each manner of death. Together the breadth and depth of details presented deliver a comprehensive content set that serves as an expert reference on the job and also provides a training resource for forensic pathology residents and fellows, pathology assistants, and crime scene investigators.
- Provides expert guidance on accurate diagnoses of the findings and patterns encountered in forensic autopsy, as well as cause of death procedures, as gleaned from Dr. Mary Ann Sens’ 40+ years of experience as a forensic pathologist, professor, and experienced 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
- Includes 1,600 high-quality images throughout (half are new to this edition), including full-color illustrations and clinical and gross pathology photographs―all carefully annotated to highlight the most diagnostically significant factors, as well as videos and nearly 600 additional images available online
- 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 an eBook version that enables you to access all text, figures, and references, with the ability to search, customize your content, make notes and highlights, and have content read aloud; additional digital ancillary content may publish up to 6 weeks following the publication date
Forensic Pathologists, Medical Examiners, Coroners
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC AUTOPSY
Hospital vs. Forensic Autopsy
History of Forensic Autopsy
Death Investigation: Persons and Systems
Types of Autopsies and Medical Legal Death
Investigations
Scene Investigation, Medical and Family History
Families
Mental Health
SECTION 2: PREAUTOPSY CONSIDERATIONS
Report of Deaths
Scene Investigations
SECTION 3: EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
Photography
Radiology
Identification
Clothing and Personal Effects
Items of Medical Intervention
Postmortem Changes
Specimen and Evidence Collection
Evidence, Clothing, Personal Effects, Interventions
New Imaging Fundamentals
Role of Anthropology, Odontology, Entomology
SECTION 4: INTERNAL EXAMINATION
Cardiovascular System
Hepatobiliary System
Gastrointestinal System
Genitourinary System
Endocrine System
Hematopoietic System
Skin, Soft Tissue
Skeletal
Respiratory System
Head and Central Nervous System
SECTION 5: INJURIES
Blast Injury
Blast Force and Blunt Force Injuries
Trauma to Central Nervous System
Transportation-Related Deaths
Firearms and Ballistic Injuries
Firearm Wound Characteristics
Firearm Deaths, Reporting, and Evidence
Firearms: Tables
Shotgun Wounds
Sharp Force Wounds
Drug-Related Deaths
Asphyxia: General Concepts
Asphyxia: Specific Types
Asphyxia: Tables
Carbon Monoxide and Toxic Gases
Electrocution
Environmental Exposure
Drowning and Water-Related Deaths
Thermal Injuries
Animal Predation
SECTION 6: PEDIATRIC DEATHS
Unexplained Sudden Deaths in Infants
Injuries in Infancy and Childhood
Stillbirth/Infanticide
Unexplained Sudden Death in Children
SECTION 7: SUDDEN NATURAL DEATHS
The Negative Autopsy
Seizure-Related Deaths
Pregnancy-Associated Deaths
Obesity
Chronic Ethanol Abuse
SECTION 8: SPECIAL TOPICS
In-Custody Deaths
Excited Delirium Syndrome
Cachexia, Starvation, Eating Disorders, and Neglect
Sexual Assault
Acute Psychiatric and Stress-Related Deaths
Serotonin Syndrome and Drug-Induced Disorders
SECTION 9: ANCILLARY PROCEDURES
Special Dissections
Toxicology Testing
Microbiology Testing
Postmortem Chemistry
Histology
Forensic Anthropology
SECTION 10: INTERPRETIVE TOXICOLOGY
Toxins and Poison Control
Serotonin and Serotonin Syndrome
Inhalants
Sedatives
Hallucinogens, Designer Drugs
Opiates: Natural, Semisynthetic, Synthetic
Stimulants: Cocaine, Methamphetamine
Metabolism, Postmortem Effects, and Pharmacogenomics
of Toxicology Testing
708 Alcohol Metabolism and Testing
Cocaine
Methamphetamine and Amphetamine
Heroin and Morphine
Prescription Opiates/Opioids
Benzodiazepines
Antidepressants
Ethylene Glycol
Nonethanol Volatiles
Inhalants
Heavy Metals
SECTION 11: THE AUTOPSY REPORT AND THE DEATH CERTIFICATE
Autopsy Report
Cause of Death
Manner of Death; NAME Guidelines
- Edition: 2
- Latest edition
- Published: April 30, 2026
- Language: English
MS
Mary Ann Sens
Mary Ann Sens, MD, PhD is Professor and Chair of Pathology, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and has been in medical practice for more than 20 years. She is Coroner of Grand Forks County, North Dakota, as well as Medical Examiner for Clearwater, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties, Minnesota
Affiliations and expertise
Professor and Chair of Pathology, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Coroner, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, Medical Examiner, Clearwater, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau Counties, Minnesota, USA