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Updated: Jun 18, 2025
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Identification of bullet holes in mummified corpse
K S Bisogni1, F Magli2, I A Galassi3
1Forensic Pathologist, Vibo Valentia, Italy.
Background:
The evaluation of the cause of death in a forensic context is often challenging especially when the corpse is in a severely altered state (decomposed, skeletonized, charred, dismembered, etc.), thus making it difficult to obtain an overview of the features and/or lesions suggestive of the dynamics leading to death.
Case Report:
In this case, the corpse was partly in a state of saponification and partly in a state of mummification with signs of skeletonization. The head, trunk, arms and upper legs were mummified and almost completely dehydrated.
Conclusion:
The use of special techniques such as the rehydration of bodies is an ancient practice. Parts of skin in different states of decomposition with the use of rehydration solution represents a useful procedure for the study of some damaging modalities, being able to identify damaged areas characterized by compression/dehydration effects, hidden by the advanced transformative state of the corpse, highlighting very damaged, in which skin normality can no longer be restored.
