Forensic volumetric visualization of gunshot residue in its anatomic context in forensic post mortem computed tomography: Development of transfer function preset

Abstract

While the visualization of gunshot injuries so far focused on solid metal density in routine forensic post mortem computed tomography (PMCT) as well as in micro-computed tomography, gunshot residue (GSR) as dispersed metal particles typically succumbs to partial volume effect. A case series of seven contact shots to the head was evaluated to determine a density range for GSR with at least three times higher likelihood than encountering bone, skin, muscle or blood. For that, a Bayesian likelihood was determined from normal distributions of the CT-densities of blood, bone, skin, muscle and GSR as identified in correlation with visual evidence. Resulting transfer functions matched ring and cone shaped GSR deposits as published elsewhere, thus representing a plausible result. Only fast and plausibly specific visualization is suitable for routine use in forensic PMCT, to allow the examination of GSR in real cases on a wider scale.