PMID- 15542271
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20070918
LR  - 20041115
IS  - 1872-6283 (Electronic)
IS  - 0379-0738 (Linking)
VI  - 146
IP  - 2-3
DP  - 2004 Dec 16
TI  - Gunshot injuries to the head and brain caused by low-velocity handguns and 
      rifles. A review.
PG  - 111-20
AB  - OBJECTIVES: Reconstruction of brain injuries is a basic task of forensic 
      neuropathology. For better understanding of the wound ballistics of gunshot 
      injuries to the brain caused by low-velocity firearms (E(o) < 550 J), we reviewed 
      the respective contributions of: (1) biomechanical reconstruction by postmortem 
      imaging techniques, (2) biometry of the extent of very early microscopic tissue 
      destruction, and (3) microscopic studies on the type and extent of early 
      microscopic reactions around the permanent missile track. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 
      selected case material of 47 victims of lethal gunshot wounding to the brain was 
      studied. (1) Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 
      techniques were compared with macroscopic findings in 17 cases. (2) Morphometric 
      evaluation of the zones of cellular and axonal destruction around the permanent 
      track was performed in 20 cases (survival time: <90 min). (3) Microscopic studies 
      of the emigration of leukocytes and macrophages plus axonal expression of 
      beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) were conducted in 10 cases (survival 
      time: >90 min). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: (1) Imaging procedures provided valuable 
      information on entrance and exit wounds, the missile track and secondary changes. 
      (2) Biometry revealed a destruction zone of ca. 3.6 cm around the permanent track 
      corresponding to the "temporary cavity". (3) Microscopic studies of reactive 
      changes demonstrated axonal injury at sites remote from the permanent cavity that 
      could explain the very early respiratory arrest following low-velocity gunshot 
      injury.
FAU - Oehmichen, M
AU  - Oehmichen M
AD  - Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus 
      Lubeck, Lubeck, Germany. oehmich@rmed.mu-luebeck.de <oehmich@rmed.mu-luebeck.de>
FAU - Meissner, C
AU  - Meissner C
FAU - Konig, H G
AU  - Konig HG
FAU - Gehl, H-B
AU  - Gehl HB
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
PL  - Ireland
TA  - Forensic Sci Int
JT  - Forensic science international
JID - 7902034
RN  - 0 (Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor)
SB  - IM
MH  - Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/metabolism
MH  - Axons/metabolism
MH  - Brain/*pathology
MH  - Brain Injuries/*pathology
MH  - Cell Movement
MH  - Forensic Ballistics
MH  - *Forensic Pathology
MH  - Head Injuries, Penetrating/*pathology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Leukocytes/pathology
MH  - Macrophages/pathology
MH  - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MH  - Necrosis
MH  - Tomography, X-Ray Computed
MH  - Wounds, Gunshot/*pathology
RF  - 35
EDAT- 2004/11/16 09:00
MHDA- 2007/09/19 09:00
CRDT- 2004/11/16 09:00
PHST- 2004/11/16 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2007/09/19 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2004/11/16 09:00 [entrez]
AID - S0379-0738(04)00399-8 [pii]
AID - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.06.023 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Forensic Sci Int. 2004 Dec 16;146(2-3):111-20. doi: 
      10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.06.023.