Occult Neoplasms in Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy: A Scoping Review of Post-Mortem Findings

Background

Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) may occasionally be attributable to neoplasms that were clinically unrecognised before the terminal event and diagnosed or confirmed during post-mortem investigation. These occult neoplasms are exceptionally rare and remain poorly characterised. This scoping review identifies published reports of neoplasms not diagnosed or strongly suspected before the terminal event in infants who died suddenly and unexpectedly, and systematically collects data on pathological features, diagnostic modalities, mechanisms of death, and the extent to which the neoplasm contributed to death.