A man who was shot at close range with a home-made gun is the subject of a BDJ case report, in the next issue of the journal. The study, by F.A. Fernandes and A. Fernandes, looks at symptoms produced by contaminated foreign bodies that enter a patient as a result of trauma.

The authors report a case where the patient had a history of a single gunshot injury to the face around 12 years earlier. Radiographic evidence revealed bullet fragments in the mandible.

The authors say, 'The patient did not have any major complaints relating to the bullets lodged in his mandible or any symptoms of lead poisoning. These foreign bodies have remained clinically silent for more than 12 years.'

The authors added that foreign bodies embedded in tissues do not necessarily result in clinical presentation and removal of the foreign body should be considered only if there is discomfort, infection or uncontrolled toxicity.