A ROCK IN A HARD PLACE - A BRIEF CASE-REPORT

Radiographs are often of assistance in locating foreign bodies, partic ularly bullets, at autopsy. It must be remembered, however, that all b ullet-shaped radioopacities that appear to be within the skull are not necessarily projectiles. Described is a radiographic conundrum caused by a piece of gravel that pierced the scalp when the victim of a guns hot wound to the head fell to the ground, The stone, although bullet s haped, differed in radiodensity to metal and could have been recognize d for what it was prior to much consternation on the part of the prose cutors. This case serves as a reminder of two pitfalls in the interpre tation of gunshot wounds to the head. First, the radiodensity of a for eign body must be considered as important as its shape. Second, a fore ign body outside of the convex surface of the skull may appear intracr anial on both anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. Last, the prose cutor is encouraged to remain open minded and not to simply ''see what he/she wants to see.''