Postmortem diagnosis of cerebral malaria

Human cerebral malaria is a frequent encephalopathy that occurs in the ende mic tropical-subtropical zones. There are a smaller number of imported case s in continental zones where the diagnosis sometimes remains difficult to e stablish. Fifteen days after the death of a 36-year-old male French citizen in Africa, an investigation to determine the cause of death was conducted. Histologic examination of the brain permitted the diagnosis of cerebral ma laria. Because of the popularity of overseas tourism and because this disor der may appear as "sudden death," these victims may be referred to a forens ic pathologist. This case demonstrates the role a forensic pathologist may play in determining the cause of death in cerebral malaria.