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Incidental occult gunshot wound detected by postmortem computed tomography

Ampanozi, Garyfalia ; Schwendener, Nicole ; Krauskopf, Astrid ; Thali, Michael ; Bartsch, Christine

In: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 2013, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 68-72

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    Titre
    • Incidental occult gunshot wound detected by postmortem computed tomography
    Auteur
    • Ampanozi, Garyfalia. Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Schwendener, Nicole. Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Krauskopf, Astrid. Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Thali, Michael. Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Bartsch, Christine. Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 2013, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 68-72. Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:312752
    Summary
    The body of a 59year old woman underwent postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) examination prior to forensic autopsy, using a 256 slice multidetector row computed tomography scanner. A large left tension pneumothorax detected on the PMCT was considered to be a likely cause of death and this was confirmed at autopsy. In addition there was an unsuspected PMCT finding of a probable gunshot injury traversing the right orbit, facial bones and frontal sinus. The autopsy technique was adjusted accordingly and PMCT findings confirmed. PMCT in this case was not only diagnostic of cause of death, but also revealed retained projectile fragments of an old gunshot wound to the face. Without prior imaging such findings would have been undetected at autopsy. This case further underscores the contribution of routine PMCT examination to forensic autopsy practice