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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
06:55
Ileectomy-induced Bile Overaccumulation in Mouse Intestine
Published on: August 21, 2017
The elusive slug: bullet intestinal "embolism"
Alon Krispin1, Konstantin Zaitsev, Jehuda Hiss
1The National Center of Forensic Medicine, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 67 Ben-Zvi Road, POB 49015, 61490 Tel Aviv, Israel. alon.krispin@forensic.health.gov.il
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
|May 18, 2010
Summary
Bullet migration within the colon is a rare postmortem complication. CT scanning aided in locating a bullet within the sigmoid colon of a gunshot victim.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Radiology
- Ballistics
Background:
- Bullet retrieval is a standard postmortem procedure.
- Missile migration, often via vessel embolism, can complicate retrieval.
- Intestinal migration of bullets is exceptionally rare.
Observation:
- A case involving a gunshot victim who died 18 days after injury is presented.
- The victim sustained three low-velocity trunk gunshot wounds.
- A bullet migrated within the colon during hospitalization and postmortem handling.
Findings:
- The bullet was successfully recovered from the sigmoid colon.
- This represents an extremely rare instance of bullet embolism within the gastrointestinal tract.
- Computed tomography (CT) scanning proved valuable for projectile localization.
Implications:
- Highlights an unusual complication in forensic examinations.
- Underscores the diagnostic utility of CT scanning in locating internal projectiles.
- Provides insights into projectile behavior in abdominal gunshot injuries.
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