Gunshot injuries detected by post-mortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT): A feasibility study

Andenmatten, M A; Thali, Michael J.; Kneubuehl, Beat P.; Oesterhelweg, Lars; Ross, Steffen; Spendlove, Danny; Bolliger, Stephan A.

doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2008.03.005

Cited by 79 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…In ballistic trauma, MSCT is helpful in determining criteria such as location of the projectile(s), determination of the direction of fire and entry and exit bone wounds. [84][85][86][87][88] Ricochets may also be detected by imaging. The same is true of sharp trauma, with visualization of deep bone laceration or of cartilage section in some cases (Figure 15).…”

Section: Identification Of Lesions On Skeletal Remainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual anthropology and forensic identification using multidetector CT

Dédouit

Savall²,

Mokrane³

et al. 2014

BJR

110

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Virtual anthropology is made possible by modern cross-sectional imaging. Multislice CT (MSCT) can be used for comparative bone and dental identification, reconstructive identification and lesion identification. Comparative identification, the comparison of ante-and post-mortem imaging data, can be performed on both teeth and bones. Reconstructive identification, a considerable challenge for the radiologist, identifies the deceased by determining sex, geographical origin, stature and age at death. Lesion identification combines virtual autopsy and virtual anthropology. MSCT can be useful in palaeopathology, seeking arthropathy, infection, oral pathology, trauma, tumours, haematological disorders, stress indicators or occupational stress in bones and teeth. We examine some of the possibilities offered by this new radiological subspeciality that adds a new dimension to the work of the forensic radiologist. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial and involves communication and data exchange between radiologists, forensic pathologists, anthropologists and radiographers.Virtual autopsies are currently becoming increasingly common worldwide in forensic medicine.1 Use of multislice CT (MSCT) or multidetector CT (MDCT) before classic medicolegal autopsy gives the forensic pathologist considerable information on injuries and cause of death.2 A recent advance in forensic imaging is post-mortem CT angiography, which yields further information on soft tissues and visceral and vascular injuries. Modern cross-sectional imaging can be used in virtual anthropological studies as well as in virtual autopsy. 4 In biological anthropology, it can be applied to compare bone or dental criteria between species. An important application is forensic anthropology, to obtain positive identification of an unknown decedent. The introduction of imaging in anthropology is of course not new, and many radiographic applications have been already described and published.In virtual anthropology, teeth and bones can be studied by MRI or by MSCT. MRI has numerous applications, 5,6 and it will certainly become an important tool in forensic study of the living, particularly for age assessment. This technique presents many advantages compared with MSCT, and, like ultrasound, it is X-ray free. However, access to MRI in thanatology is currently difficult, mainly because of limited time availability of the machine.The wide range of possibilities offered by MSCT may seem bewildering to a non-radiologist! If an MSCT examination is to give optimal results, many technical conditions must be adhered to in terms of image quality, spatial resolution and contrast. If not, the final images may even be unusable, in particular, for analysis of fine trabecular bone lesions (Figure 1). The initial CTmust be performed with appropriate voltage, amperage, field of view and slice thickness. After acquisition, reconstruction time is critical. Choice of thickness and interval and choice of filters influence voxel size and the possibility of radiological interpretation...

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Section: Identification Of Lesions On Skeletal Remainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual anthropology and forensic identification using multidetector CT

Dédouit

Savall²,

Mokrane³

et al. 2014

BJR

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…However CT offers significant advantages over plain film Xrays (29,30). CT cannot replace all the information that an autopsy can provide, and at present CT should be considered an adjunct to the forensic autopsy.…”

Section: Gunshot Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CT allows discrimination between foreign objects that differ in radio absorption, such as glass fragments from a shot fired through a window or metal fragments from passage through the door of a vehicle. Retrieval and analysis of such fragments may be of importance in reconstructing the event and in determining the location of the crime scene (29). CT may provide important additional information in cases where the visual evaluation is difficult due to severe decomposition or charring.…”

Section: Wwwintechopencommentioning

confidence: 99%

CT-Scanning in Forensic Medicine

Leth¹

2011

CT Scanning - Techniques and Applications

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“…In cases of gunshot injuries, radiographs can be used for the retrieval of the bullet or potentially important metallic parts of it from the propulsive charge as well as from the primer, the bullet, the cartridge case, and the firearm itself [10]. These residues can be observed in conventional radiographs as radiopaque, roughly round findings, located along the path traveled by the bullet through the tissues [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Gunshot residues can be found in any type of tissue the bullet traveled through, including the bone [20][21][22], and recent studies have shown the presence of GSR even under the periosteum [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The survival of metallic residues from gunshot wounds in cremated bone: a radiological study

et al. 2011

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In literature, many studies have been performed in order to investigate the presence of GSR ("gunshot residue") and metallic residues in general with radiological techniques on several types of material, but the survival of metallic residues on charred samples has never been systematically performed. In this study, 31 adult bovine ribs underwent a shooting test. Every rib was shot with a single bullet, at a near-contact shooting distance, using two kinds of projectile: 17 samples were shot with a full metal-jacketed bullet and the remaining 14 with an unjacketed bullet. After the shooting test, every rib underwent a "charring cycle" in an electric oven up to 800°C. Every sample underwent radiological investigation with conventional radiography, before and after the burning process, to evaluate any changes in number and distribution of metallic residues. Radiographs showed survival of radiopaque residues in every sample, even after the charring process, especially when the bullet used was of the unjacketed type.

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Gunshot injuries detected by post-mortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT): A feasibility study

Cited by 79 publications

References 10 publications

Virtual anthropology and forensic identification using multidetector CT

Virtual anthropology and forensic identification using multidetector CT

CT-Scanning in Forensic Medicine

The survival of metallic residues from gunshot wounds in cremated bone: a radiological study

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