The fate of retained intracerebral shotgun pellets

Abstract

✓ An experimental study is presented of the histopathological reaction of the brain to shotgun pellets surgically implanted in cats. Hardened lead shot produced the least reaction, copper-coated pellets the most, and nickel-coated shot an intermediate reaction. Seven histological changes and neurological deficits were apparent in cats with implanted copper-coated pellets; a marked migration of copper-coated shot was revealed by x-ray and autopsy examination. Three clinical cases are presented to illustrate the clinical significance of the laboratory data.