Keywords:
Forensic / Necropsy studies, Conventional radiography, Medico-legal issues, Technical aspects, Forensics, Foreign bodies
Authors:
E. M. Dempsey1, M. T. Cassidy1, J. P. McNulty1, A. R. Wilkinson2; 1Dublin/IE, 2Dublin /IE
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2012/C-1662
Conclusion
The diagnostic potential of radiography to the State Pathologist during the post-mortem examination of gun-shot victims is enhanced when orthogonal projections of the regions of interest are provided.
As far back as 1982,
Schmidt and Kallieris advocated taking x-rays of the skull in two planes.
This facilitates the Pathologist in locating the bullets within the three-dimensional cavity of the human body,
from the information provided by the two-dimensional radiographic images.
In certain cases,
retrieval of the ballistic evidence has been delayed by the Pathologist trying to ‘blindly’ locate the projectiles.
This will have a direct and negative impact on the criminal investigation.
Straathof et al.
(2000) classified forensic radiographic images which only provided a projection in one plane as “inadequate radiography.” The Radiologist’s Reports for the radiographic images attached (Figures 2,
3,
4,
5) visually demonstrate the usefulness of accurate and/or additional information that can be provided when an orthogonal [e.g.
lateral] projection is provided.
With the A.P.
projection alone,
the presence of a projectile is identified but the perception of depth [i.e.
the third dimension] is lacking until an orthogonal [e.g.
lateral projection] is provided.
This facilitates the accurate localisation of the projectile for rapid evidence collection which contributes positively to the forensic analysis by ballistics experts.
Harcke et al.
(2007) discuss the attempt to overcome the limitations of conventional radiography,
which represents three-dimensional structures on a two-dimensional image,
by acquiring orthogonal projections.
Whilst Pathologists may request these in specific circumstances,
the practicality of achieving lateral projections of the torso can be very challenging in post-mortem imaging.
This is particularly true in cases where rigor mortis is present.
It is time-consuming to perform whole-body radiography,
and it is difficult to achieve optimal image quality when performing post-mortem lateral projections.
Experienced forensic Radiographers are necessary in order to optimise the imaging examination in this situation.
This audit has shown that orthogonal projections were provided to the Irish State Pathologist in a mere 32% of cases involving firearms to assist in the localisation of ballistic evidence.
Therefore,
education and training of Radiographers in Ireland who provide forensic radiography services needs to be improved so that the imaging provided is of benefit to the State Pathologist in the post-mortem examination,
contributing to more timely localisation of ballistic evidence.