Stippling consists of multiple punctate abrasions caused by foreign material driven into the skin after a gun is discharged. It is important to carefully examine an area of suspected stippling, which may include taking a biopsy of the area.
Types of stippling:
(1) powder tattoo from gunpowder in the shell
(2) pseudo-powder tattoo (tattoo due to non-powder material)
Non-Powder Material
Source
glass
window penetrated by a bullet
plastic
plastic jacket to a bullet, shotgun shell casing, homemade silencer, penetrated piece of plastic
metal
metal jacket of the bullet, material from homemade silencer, richochet bullet
dirt or stone
richochet bullet
wood
richochet bullet, bullet passing through wood
Differential diagnosis of stippling:
(1) petechial injuries
(2) suture marks made to close a wound
(3) hemorrhage into hair follicles secondary to blast effect
(4) post-mortem insect activity
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