Citation

Nichols CA, Guerry PD, Sens MA. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 1990; 11(1): 71-73.

Affiliation

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2407110

Abstract

A small wound found on the ear of a homicide victim was inflicted by either a knife or a sharp fragment of ceramic. To test the potential usefulness of cytologic examination of wound edges for fragments of inert material from the assault weapon, the wound was rinsed and cytologic filters were prepared from the retained rinsing material. The particulate matter present on filters included microscopic fragments of crockery admixed with blood and other tissue components. This observation supported other physical evidence that the wound was caused by the sharp edge of a ceramic crock rather than by the knife. This case demonstrates the potential usefulness of cytologic examination of wound edges.

Language: en