Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2025. Vol. 70. № 5
DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2025-70-5-82-86
A.Y. Vasiliev1, 2, S.V. Leonov1, 3, 7, N.N. Blinov (m)4, N.N. Potrakhov5,
L.A. Leonova1, 6, A.I. Sakharov6, 7
Chest X-Ray in the Diagnosis of Mine-Explosion Injury During Mass Examination of the Dead
1 Russian University of Medicine, Moscow, Russia
2 Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education, Moscow, Russia
3 A. Nevsky Military University, Moscow, Russia
4 M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Scientific Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
5 V.I. Ulyanov St. Petersburg State Electrotechnical University “LETI”, Saint Petersburg, Russia
6 Bureau of the Main Forensic Medical Examination, Moscow, Russia
7. Medical and Biological University of Innovation and Continuing Education, Moscow, Russia
Contact person: L.A. Leonova, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
Due to the increasing number of deaths from mine-explosive chest injuries, the problem of diagnosing these injuries during the mass arrival of dead bodies has become urgent for forensic medicine. One of the possible solutions to this problem is an express X–ray diagnosis of mine and explosive damage to the chest organs during a mass examination of the dead.
The purpose of the study: To study the possibilities of express X-ray diagnostics of mine-explosive wounds of the chest using a portable X-ray machine.
Material and methods: Express chest X-ray was performed in 50 victims of the SMO. The entire study was conducted in atypical styling, “with your hands.”
Results: 69 X-ray images were taken. Data were obtained that 66 % of the victims had damage to the bone structure of the chest, in other cases damage to internal organs and soft tissues was detected. In 10 % of cases, damage was caused by small fragments, in 14 % by large fragments, and in 32 % the damage was caused by fragments of various sizes. In 40 % of cases, combined lesions of the chest, skull, neck, abdominal cavity and upper extremities were found on radiographs. The peculiarity of the wounding projectile was clarified and the possibilities of determining the wound channel with visualization of the inlet and outlet openings were studied. X-ray analysis showed that the vast majority of chest injuries were accompanied by rib fractures and soft tissue injuries.
Conclusions: Hand-held photography with a portable X-ray machine in atypical layouts did not create dynamic blurring. The use of a portable device made it possible to diagnose the length and shape of wound channels, allowing for a clear definition of the inlet and outlet openings, the contours of the channel and its direction, as well as minor injuring agents. Express X–ray diagnostics visualizes wounding projectiles well, regardless of what the foreign body is – a bullet or its fragments, a striking element, a fragment of a drone, a fragment of a projectile or a bone.
Keywords: radiography, mine explosion injury, chest, mass examination
For citation: Vasiliev AY, Leonov SV, Blinov (m) NN, Potrakhov NN, Leonova LA, Sakharov AI. Chest X-Ray in the Diagnosis of Mine-Explosion Injury During Mass Examination of the Dead. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2025;70(5):82–86. (In Russian). DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2025-70-5-82-86
References
1. Dorokhov A.Ye., Akperova S.R., Prosvetov S.G. Analysis of the Nature of Injuries and Wounds Received during a Special Military Operation. Proceedings of the XIX International Burdenkov Scientific Conference, Voronezh, April 20-22, 2023. Voronezh, Voronezhskiy Gosudarstvennyy Meditsinskiy Universitet Publ., 2023. P. 138-139 (In Russ.).
2. Shchegolev A.I., Tumanova U.N. Possibilities of Postmortem Radiation Studies in Pathological Anatomical Practice. Sovremennaya Patologiya: Opyt, Problemy, Perspektivy = Modern Pathology: Experience, Problems, Prospects. Collection of Materials of the I All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation. Samara, Samarskiy Gosudarstvennyy Meditsinskiy Universitet Publ., 2020. P. 207-213 (In Russ.).
3. Shchegolev A.I., Tumanova U.N. Characteristics of the Features of Postmortem Radiation Studies. Luchevaya Diagnostika dlya Patologicheskoy Anatomii i Sudebno-Meditsinskoy Ekspertizy: ot Prizhiznennoy k Posmertnoy = Radiation Diagnostics for Pathological Anatomy and Forensic Medical Examination: from Intravital to Postmortem. Proceedings of the II scientific and practical conference of the Interregional Thanatoradiological Society. Moscow, October 7-8, 2022. Moscow, Mezhregional’noye Tanatoradiologicheskoye Obshchestvo Publ., 2022. P. 3-12 (In Russ.).
4. Shval’b A.P. On the Importance of Postmortem Radiation Research for Pathological Anatomy and Forensic Medicine. Tanatoradiologiya: ot Perinatologii do Gerontologii = Thanatoradiology: from Perinatology to Gerontology. Proceedings of the III Scientific and Practical Conference of the Interregional Tanatoradiological Society. Moscow, October 13-14, 2023. Moscow, Mezhregional’noye Tanatoradiologicheskoye Obshchestvo Publ., 2023. P. 146-156 (In Russ.).
5. Zakharov S.N., Pigolkin Yu.I. Application of Radiation Diagnostic Methods in Forensic Practice. Tanatoradiologiya: ot Perinatologii do Gerontologii = Thanatoradiology: from Perinatology to Gerontology. Proceedings of the III Scientific and Practical Conference of the Interregional Tanatoradiological Society. Moscow, October 13-14, 2023. Moscow, Mezhregional’noye Tanatoradiologicheskoye Obshchestvo Publ., 2023. P. 15-20 (In Russ.).
6. Makarov I.Yu., Bogomolov D.V., Gyul’mamedova N.D., Shay A.N. Some Modern Methods of Diagnosing Gunshot Injuries. Sudebno-Meditsinskaya Ekspertiza = Forensic Medical Expertise. 2019;2:55-60 ( In Russ.).
7. Sudebno-Meditsinskaya Radiologiya. Ot Identifikatsii Lichnosti do Posmertnoy Vizualizatsii = Forensic Radiology. From Personal Identification to Postmortem Visualization. Ed. Dzh. Lo Re, A. Argo, M. Midiri, K. Kattaneo. Moscow, Prakticheskaya Meditsina Publ., 2023. P. 61-62 (In Russ.).
8. Grabherr S., Grimm J. Forensic Radiology. Radiology. 2024;64:823–829. doi: 10.1007/s00117-024-01365-2.
9. Hofer P., Ferling C. Forensische Bildgebung der Scharfen Gewalt [Forensic Imaging of Sharp Force Injuries]. Radiologie (Heidelb). 2024 Nov;64;11:846-853. doi: 10.1007/s00117-024-01370-5.
10. Ohsaka H., Omori K., Takeuchi I., Yanagawa Y. Impalement Injury Diagnosed at the Scene by a Portable X-Ray System Transported by a Physician-Staffed Helicopter. J Emerg Trauma Shock. 2020 Jan-Mar;13;1:101-102. doi: 10.4103/JETS.JETS_164_19.
11. Omori K., Yanagawa Y., Muramatsu K.-i., Nagasawa H., Takeuchi I., Madokoro S., Jitsuiki K., Yatsu, Ohsaka S.H., Ishikawa K. Experience Using a Portable X-Ray System at the Scene Transported by a Physician-Staffed Helicopter. Acute Med Surg. 2019;6:396-399. doi: 10.1002/ams2.431.
12. Zhang M. Forensic Imaging: a Powerful Tool in Modern Forensic Investigation. Forensic Sci Res. 2022 Mar 7;7;3:385-392. doi:10.1080/20961790.2021.2008705.
13. Decker S.J., Braileanu M., Dey C., Lenchik L., Pickup M., Powell J., Tucker M., Probyn L. Forensic Radiology: a Primer. Acad Radiol. 2019 Jun;26;6:820-830. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2019.03.006
14. Cafarelli F.P., Grilli G., Zizzo G., Bertozzi G., Giuliani N., Mahakkanukrauh P., Pinto A, Guglielmi G. Postmortem Imaging: an Update. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2019 Feb;40;1:86-93. Epub 2018 Oct 28. doi: 10.1053/j.sult.2018.10.012.
15. Zech W.D., Ruder T.D. Stumpfe Gewalt in der Forensischen Radiologie [Blunt Force Trauma in Forensic Radiology]. Radiologie (Heidelb). 2024 Nov;64;11:837-845. Epub 2024 Sep 25. doi: 10.1007/s00117-024-01366-1.
PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Financing. The study had no sponsorship.
Contribution. Vasiliev Alexander Yuryevich – formation of the idea of express X-ray diagnostics, goals, chest X–ray in corpses, writing the text, approval of the final version of the article – taking responsibility for all aspects of the work, the integrity of all parts of the article and its final version; Leonov Sergey Valeryevich – formation of goals for forensic medicine, autopsy, writing the text, correction of captions and approval of the final version; Nikolai Nikolaevich Blinov (m.) – collecting material, working with images and captions, writing text, searching for publications on the topic, analyzing literature, participating in the processing of material and calculating statistical indicators; Nikolai Nikolaevich Potrakhov – forming the idea of shooting in non-specialized conditions, preparing a device for forensic medicine, checking and correction of physical and technical conditions of shooting; Larisa Aleksandrovna – writing the article text, correcting the drawings and captions, checking the terms in forensic medicine, and scientific editing of the text; Sakharov Alexander Igorevich – writing the article text, correcting the drawings and captions, checking the terms in forensic medicine.
Article received: 20.05.2025. Accepted for publication: 25.06.2025.