Identification of gunpowder in healed wounds.
A woman received a contact gunshot wound to the abdomen from a .22 caliber revolver. She recovered only to succumb to another gunshot wound six months later. The initial wound was dissected and multiple intact granules of round flake gunpowder were recovered. Cross sections of granules were clearly identifiable in histologic slides. Recovery of intact powder in remote wounds has not been previously described and may help classify the ammunition and weapon used to produce the injury.
Dept. of Pathology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163.
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Smith
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Berryman
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Symes
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LeVaughn
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000473:pathology*; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology*