title: Imaging mass spectrometry of elements in forensic cases by LA-ICP-MS.
abstract: Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was performed to map elements in thin formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of two forensic cases with firearm and electrocution injuries, respectively. In both cases, histological examination of the wounded tissue regions revealed the presence of exogenous aggregates that may be interpreted as metallic depositions. The use of imaging LA-ICP-MS allowed us to unambiguously determine the elemental composition of the observed aggregates assisting the pathologist in case assessments. To the best of our knowledge, we demonstrate for the first time the use of imaging LA-ICP-MS as a complementary tool for forensic pathologists and toxicologists in order to map the presence of metals and other elements in thin tissue sections of post-mortem cases.
authors: University Centre of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Estelle
authors: E
authors: Lauer
authors: University Centre of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Max
authors: M
authors: Villa
authors: University Centre of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Morgane
authors: M
authors: Jotterand
authors: University Centre of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Vilarino
authors: University Centre of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Bollmann
authors: University Centre of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Michaud
authors: University Centre of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Silke
authors: S
authors: Grabherr
authors: University Centre of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Augsburger
authors: University Centre of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Switzerland. aurelien.thomas@chuv.ch.|Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. aurelien.thomas@chuv.ch.
authors: Aurélien
authors: A
authors: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements
keywords: Histology; Imaging mass spectrometry; LA-ICP; Metal; Tissue section; Trace elements