fig1

Figure 1. Integrated forensic investigation pathway in SCD. The diagnostic workflow begins with scene investigation, followed by autopsy examination and histopathological evaluation. Ancillary investigations, including toxicology, postmortem imaging, IHC, molecular autopsy, and omics approaches, provide complementary diagnostic information, particularly in autopsy-negative SCD cases. Integration of all findings enables etiological diagnosis and classification, supporting translational outcomes such as familial cascade screening, cardiovascular risk stratification, and public health prevention strategies. Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), computational pathology, and big-data integration, may enhance multiple stages of the diagnostic pathway.