X-ray Analytic Microscopy with CT-Guided Sample Extraction to Analyze Potential Projectile Fragments in a Dead Serow

Yuko Kihara, Laboratory of Shelter Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonan-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan. Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, JapanFollow
Yohsuke Makino, Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Education and Research Center of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
Masaaki Yokoyama, Analytical Technology Division, Horiba Techno Service Co, Ltd., 2-6 Awajicho, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0063, Japan.
Fumiko Chiba, Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Education and Research Center of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
Aki Tanaka, Laboratory of Shelter Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonan-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
Shouta M.M. Nakayama, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Kita18, Nishi9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan. School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Shin-ichi Hayama, Laboratory of Shelter Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonan-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
Mayumi Ishizuka, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Kita18, Nishi9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan.
Kurt B. Nolte, Departments of Pathology and Radiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Hirotaro Iwase, Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Education and Research Center of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2023

Abstract

In forensic pathology, it is important to detect and recover as evidence residual metal particles and projectiles when evaluating potential gunshot wounds. This process can be challenging when the bullets are fragmented. This report presents our experience using multiple modalities to analyze the wound of an illegally killed Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) found in a mountainous region without its head and hind limbs. We performed postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and necropsy that showed a distant-range gunshot wound of the neck likely created by a centerfire rifle. A postmortem cut through the neck and absent head precluded a complete evaluation. To determine the composition of the metal-like fragments in the neck, sampling and metal analysis were performed in two ways. Samples extracted from the exposed wound surface without CT guidance were analyzed directly using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples from the bone, muscles, and cervical cord extracted under CT guidance were analyzed using x-ray analytic microscopy (XGT-9000, HORIBA, Kyoto, Japan). In wound surface samples, silicon and iron were detected as the main components on ICP-MS, suggesting that the materials were gravel. The samples taken under CT guidance and analyzed with XGT-9000 revealed that the high-density CT areas were mainly composed of lead. Combining CT-guided sample extraction and XGT-9000 can be useful for retrieving true projectile fragments and avoiding the confusion created by erroneously sampling non-projectile surface materials.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS