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01-03-2021 | Autopsy | Original Article

Postmortem CT and autopsy findings in nine victims of terrorist attack

Authors: Antonio Oliva, Simone Grassi, Vincenzo M. Grassi, Vilma Pinchi, Roberto Floris, Guglielmo Manenti, Cesare Colosimo, Laura Filograna, Vincenzo L. Pascali

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 2/2021

Abstract

In a foreign country, a religious terrorist group raided a restaurant, using pipe bombs, sharp-edged weapons, and various types of firearms (handguns, submachine guns, and AK-47 assault rifles) loaded with normal and prohibited bullets to kill foreigner customers, some of whom were Italian tourists. Local pathologists performed forensic autopsies on the bodies, but we were asked to perform additional external examinations, postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) scans, and then a second round of complete autopsies on nine victims (5 females and 4 males). Four victims had slash wounds inflicted by sharp-edged weapons, mostly localized in the head and neck. All but two victims had gunshot wounds. Finally, three casualties had injuries caused by the explosion of improvised explosive devices. In all cases, PMCT was a reliable source of information and provided strategic guide during autopsies, helping identify and describe the injuries and thus reconstruct the events. Therefore, in these cases, we suggest integrating the autopsy findings with the postmortem radiological data.

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Title: Postmortem CT and autopsy findings in nine victims of terrorist attack
Authors: Antonio Oliva
Simone Grassi
Vincenzo M. Grassi
Vilma Pinchi
Roberto Floris
Guglielmo Manenti
Cesare Colosimo
Laura Filograna
Vincenzo L. Pascali
Publication date: 01-03-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Autopsy
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02492-w

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Postmortem CT and autopsy findings in nine victims of terrorist attack

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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