Resumen de Discordance of Gross and Histologic Findings in Estimating the Range of Fire of Gunshot Wounds
Leigh Hlavaty, Leonardo Roquero, Jeffery Amley, Kelly Root, Martin Ishikawa, Andrew Koopmeiners, Lili Zhao, LokMan Sung
Forensic pathologist use soot and/or stippling surrounding entrance gunshot wounds in categorizing range of fire. If absent,some pathologists suggest utilizing histology when the range is diagnostically critical. This study investigates the concordance of macroscopicand microscopic findings in estimating range of fire by evaluating gunshot entrance and exit wounds made through human tissue analogs atdefined distances using two handgun calibers. Examination of over 150 entrance wounds verified the ease of visually detecting soot from amuzzle distance of contact to 1 foot (30.5 cm), and its absence at 9 feet (274.3 cm). Distinctly apparent was bullet wipe surrounding theentrance wounds regardless of muzzle distance. Although variations existed, dark material was histologically identified in many skin, soft tis-sue, and bone sections at all ranges with both calibers. These nonparallel results decrease the dependability of histology for range of fire esti-mation and reinforce using gross observation.
