The sonographic appearance and detectability of nonopaque and semiopaque materials of military origin

The objective of our study was to characterize the sonographic appearance and detectability of nonopaque and semiopaque materials of military origin in soft tissue. Representative materials were obtained from combat boots used in land mine tests and from military-issue clothing and equipment. Sixty fragments from 3 to 30 mm were embedded in an in vitro tissue model (thawed turkey breasts). Real-time ultrasonography was used to search for the fragments and to characterize their sonographic qualities (surface echoes, acoustic shadowing) when visible. Fifty-eight fragments were identified successfully. Two 5-mm fragments in the group of smallest size were missed. All types of material tested were visible. Nonopaque fragments of military origin should be detectable by sonography when present as foreign bodies in soft tissue. This represents a potential application for sonography in military hospitals.