Diffuse axonal injury in infants with nonaccidental craniocerebral trauma: enhanced detection by beta-amyloid precursor protein immunohistochemical staining

Accurate identification of diffuse axonal injury is important in the forensic investigation of infants who have died from traumatic brain injury. beta-Amyloid precursor protein (beta-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 beta-APP immunohistochemistry in detecting diffuse axonal injury in infants with either shaken baby syndrome or blunt head trauma. Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from infants (