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Feasibility of use of medical dual energy scanner for forensic detection and characterization of explosives, a phantom study

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International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Detection of explosives is a challenge due to the use of improvised and concealed bombs. Post-bomb strike bodies are handled by emergency and forensic teams. We aimed to determine whether medical dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) algorithm and prediction model can readily detect and distinguish a range of explosives on the human body during disaster victim identification (DVI) processes of bombings.

Materials and Methods

A medical DECT of 8 explosives (Semtex, Pastex, Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine, Acetone peroxide, Nitrocellulose, Pentrite, Ammonium Nitrate, and classified explosive) was conducted ex-vivo and on an anthropomorphic phantom. Hounsfield unit (HU), electron density (ED), effective atomic number (Zeff), and dual energy index (DEI),were compared by Wilcoxon signed rank test. Intra-class (ICC) and Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were computed. Explosives classification was performed through a prediction model with test-retest samples.

Results

Except for DEI (p = 0.036), means of HU, ED, and Zeff were not statistically different (p > 0.05) between explosives ex-vivo and on the phantom (r > 0.80). Intra- and inter-reader ICC were good to excellent: 0.806 to 0.997 and 0.890, respectively. Except for the phantom DEI, all measurements from each individual explosive differed significantly. HU, ED, Zeff, and DEI differed depending on the type of explosive. Our decision tree provided Zeff and ED for explosives classification with high accuracy (83.7%) and excellent reliability (100%).

Conclusion

Our medical DECT algorithm and prediction model can readily detect and distinguish our range of explosives on the human body. This would avoid possible endangering of DVI staff.

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Abbreviations

DVI:

Disaster victim identification

Z eff :

Effective atomic number

ED:

electron density

DE:

Dual energy

DEI:

Dual energy index

EOD:

Explosive ordnance disposal office

RANDO:

Radiation analog dosimetry

TATP:

Triacetone triperoxide

HMTD:

Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine

ICC:

Intra-class coefficient

CI:

Confidence interval

DLP:

Dose length product

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forensic Imaging Unit, University Hospital of Brest, 29609, Brest Cedex, France

    Julien Ognard, Romain Cadieu & Douraied Ben Salem

  2. Latim, Inserm, UMR 1101, Brest Occidental University (UBO), 29238, Brest, France

    Julien Ognard & Douraied Ben Salem

  3. Nuclear Medicine Department, University Hospital of Brest, 29609, Brest Cedex, France

    David Bourhis

  4. GETBO EA 3878, Brest Occidental University (UBO), 29238, Brest, France

    David Bourhis

  5. General Directorate for Civil Security and Crisis Management, Explosive Ordinance Disposal office, French Ministry of Interior, 75008, Paris, France

    Michel Grenier

  6. Forensic Institute, University Hospital of Brest, 29609, Brest Cedex, France

    Claire Saccardy

  7. Inserm, Clinical Investigation Center 1412, University Hospital of Brest, 29609, Brest Cedex, France

    Zarrin Alavi

Authors
  1. Julien Ognard
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  2. David Bourhis
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  3. Romain Cadieu
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  4. Michel Grenier
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  6. Zarrin Alavi
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  7. Douraied Ben Salem
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zarrin Alavi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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No ethical approval was required for this phantom study.

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Ognard, J., Bourhis, D., Cadieu, R. et al. Feasibility of use of medical dual energy scanner for forensic detection and characterization of explosives, a phantom study. Int J Legal Med 134, 1915–1925 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02315-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02315-y

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