Forensic pathologist involved in the examination of firearm
injuries should be aware of the possible artifacts that may lead to misinterpretation of facts. Such artifacts as reported in the
literature include ‘pseudo-soot’, ‘pseudo-tattooing’ and ‘pseu
do-scorching’.2,4 Patel2 has reported a case of pseudoscalloping
of a shotgun entry wound that led to the overestimation
of the range. Though a few reports on alterations in
gunshot wounds are reported, artifacts and injuries that resemble
a gunshot wound are rarely described in the literature. In
this regard, a non-missile penetrating injury simulating a gunshot
wound is reported which can be misleading to forensic
investigators.5 Pollak and Reiter6 have reported two cases in
which changes brought about by the maggots primarily gave
the impression of gunshot wounds. They observed that in special
conditions, the damage by maggots can take the appearance
of bullet holes. However, none of the reported cases
describes the artifacts resembling a shot gun wound.