Firearms, bullets, and wound ballistics: an imaging primer.
Based on its intrinsic mass and velocity, a bullet has an upper limit of wounding potential. Actual wound severity is a function of the bullet construction and trajectory, as well as the properties of the tissues traversed. Interpreting physicians must evaluate the bullet trajectory and describe patterns of injury resulting from the effect of energy transfer from the projectile into living tissue. A basic understanding of firearms, projectiles, and wound ballistics can help the interpreting physicians in conceptualizing these injuries and interpreting these cases.
Division of Emergency Radiology, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address: tarek.hanna@emory.edu.
Tarek N
TN
Hanna
Division of Emergency Radiology, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address: Waqas.shuaib@emory.edu.
Waqas
W
Shuaib
Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Tatiana
T
Han
Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Ajeet
A
Mehta
Division of Emergency Radiology, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Faisal
F
Khosa
D000792:Angiography; D004867:Equipment Design; D005389:Firearms / Q000145:classification; D044709:Forensic Ballistics; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
Ballistics; Emergency department; Firearms; Gunshot wounds; Projectiles; Radiology