Post-mortem computed tomography in forensic shooting distance estimation: a porcine cadaver study
Abstract Objectives Gunshot wounds are frequently studied using computed tomography (CT) to examine tissue damage. In this study, we aimed to test the potential of post-mortem CT (PMCT) in shooting distance estimation at distances 0–100 cm. We hypothesized that in addition to the wound channel, we c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-022-05997-2 |
| _version_ | 1818306303575982080 |
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| author | Juho-Antti Junno Antti Kotiaho Petteri Oura |
| author_facet | Juho-Antti Junno Antti Kotiaho Petteri Oura |
| author_sort | Juho-Antti Junno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives Gunshot wounds are frequently studied using computed tomography (CT) to examine tissue damage. In this study, we aimed to test the potential of post-mortem CT (PMCT) in shooting distance estimation at distances 0–100 cm. We hypothesized that in addition to the wound channel, we could also potentially detect tissue damage caused by muzzle pressure on PMCT. Results A total of 59 gunshot wounds (23 contact shots, 21 close-range shots, 15 distant shots) were inflicted on eight piglet carcasses with a .22 Long Rifle handgun. PMCT scans were obtained using clinical equipment, and they were evaluated for wound characteristics by visual inspection and numeric measurements. In our data, contact shots could be clearly distinguished from close-range and distant shots by a hyperdense ring-shaped area surrounding the outermost part of the wound channel. Close-range and distant shot wounds did not have this feature and were difficult to distinguish from each other. The mean wound channel diameter ranged from 3.4 to 5.4 mm, being smallest in contact shots and largest in distant shots. These preliminary findings suggest that PMCT may aid the estimation of shooting distance. As this study only addressed low velocity gunshot wounds in carcasses, further studies are warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:40:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c3e076bccb584e26a46ac33626787964 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-0500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:40:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Research Notes |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3e076bccb584e26a46ac336267879642022-12-21T23:56:26ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002022-03-011511610.1186/s13104-022-05997-2Post-mortem computed tomography in forensic shooting distance estimation: a porcine cadaver studyJuho-Antti Junno0Antti Kotiaho1Petteri Oura2Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of OuluDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University HospitalDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of HelsinkiAbstract Objectives Gunshot wounds are frequently studied using computed tomography (CT) to examine tissue damage. In this study, we aimed to test the potential of post-mortem CT (PMCT) in shooting distance estimation at distances 0–100 cm. We hypothesized that in addition to the wound channel, we could also potentially detect tissue damage caused by muzzle pressure on PMCT. Results A total of 59 gunshot wounds (23 contact shots, 21 close-range shots, 15 distant shots) were inflicted on eight piglet carcasses with a .22 Long Rifle handgun. PMCT scans were obtained using clinical equipment, and they were evaluated for wound characteristics by visual inspection and numeric measurements. In our data, contact shots could be clearly distinguished from close-range and distant shots by a hyperdense ring-shaped area surrounding the outermost part of the wound channel. Close-range and distant shot wounds did not have this feature and were difficult to distinguish from each other. The mean wound channel diameter ranged from 3.4 to 5.4 mm, being smallest in contact shots and largest in distant shots. These preliminary findings suggest that PMCT may aid the estimation of shooting distance. As this study only addressed low velocity gunshot wounds in carcasses, further studies are warranted.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-022-05997-2Forensic medicinePost-mortem imagingComputed tomographyGunshot wound |
| spellingShingle | Juho-Antti Junno Antti Kotiaho Petteri Oura Post-mortem computed tomography in forensic shooting distance estimation: a porcine cadaver study BMC Research Notes Forensic medicine Post-mortem imaging Computed tomography Gunshot wound |
| title | Post-mortem computed tomography in forensic shooting distance estimation: a porcine cadaver study |
| title_full | Post-mortem computed tomography in forensic shooting distance estimation: a porcine cadaver study |
| title_fullStr | Post-mortem computed tomography in forensic shooting distance estimation: a porcine cadaver study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Post-mortem computed tomography in forensic shooting distance estimation: a porcine cadaver study |
| title_short | Post-mortem computed tomography in forensic shooting distance estimation: a porcine cadaver study |
| title_sort | post mortem computed tomography in forensic shooting distance estimation a porcine cadaver study |
| topic | Forensic medicine Post-mortem imaging Computed tomography Gunshot wound |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-022-05997-2 |
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