A radiograph of a homicide victim shows a diffuse cloud of numerous small radio-opaque fragments scattered along the wound track through the liver, resembling a snowstorm. Which type of bullet MOST likely produced this appearance?

• A Full metal jacketed military round that exited intact
• B Solid brass practice round
• C Single .22 rimfire round retained intact in the liver
• D Hollow point expanding bullet that fragmented within the tissues ✓

Explanation

Expanding bullets such as hollow points mushroom and often disintegrate on impact, scattering dozens of tiny metallic fragments along the track. On plain radiographs this produces the so-called lead snowstorm appearance, which indicates massive energy deposition and predicts severe internal injury. A fully jacketed round passing through leaves a clean track with either no bullet or one intact missile, and an intact retained bullet appears as a single defined shadow rather than a fragment cloud.

Reference: Knight's Forensic Pathology, 4th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.