Shotgun pellet embolism to the brain.

This report describes the autopsy findings in a young man who died after having been shot with a shotgun from about 30 m. Although not suspected clinically, a right middle cerebral artery territory infarct was found; its cause was shown to be a shotgun pellet embolus that had lodged just proximal to the trifurcation of the right middle cerebral artery. The case underscores the importance of performing a thorough postmortem examination, including a careful study of cerebral vasculature, in instances of brain infarction.