Diffuse Axonal Injury in Infants With Nonaccidental Craniocerebral Trauma

Objective.—Accurate identification of diffuse axonal injury is important in the forensic investigation of infants who have died from traumatic brain injury. β-Amyloid precursor protein (β-APP) immunohistochemical staining is highly sensitive in identifying diffuse axonal injury. However, the effectiveness of this method in brain-injured infants has not been well established. The present study was undertaken to assess the utility of β-APP immunohistochemistry in detecting diffuse axonal injury in infants with either shaken baby syndrome or blunt head trauma. Materials and Methods.—Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from infants (