Suicide by pipe bomb - A case report

While lying down, a 23-year-old man detonated an improvised explosive devic e placed behind his head. The posterior neck and shoulders were singed, and much of the brain was avulsed. Death was due to laceration and partial avu lsion of the cerebrum, midbrain, and brain stem. The injuries had a directi onal nature. Facts derived from the scene investigation and gross dissectio n, including nature, distribution, and extent of the wounds, in conjunction with preceding medical and social history, allowed for a reasonable recons truction of the circumstances.