Citation

Hierholzer J, Cordes M, Tantow H, Keske U, Mäurer J, Felix R. Abdom. Imaging 1995; 20(4): 333-338.

Affiliation

Strahlenklinik und Poliklinik, Virchow-Klinikum, Medizinische Fakultätder Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7549738

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the imaging characteristics and the diagnostic value of both abdominal ultrasound and conventional abdominal x-ray in identifying ingested drug packages in "body packers." MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve individuals were studied prospectively by abdominal ultrasound and by abdominal x-ray to rule out incorporated drug containers. RESULTS: Both abdominal ultrasound and abdominal x-ray correctly identified the 7 of 12 individuals who had ingested multiple drug packages. In 5 of the 12 individuals, ultrasound as well as abdominal x-ray were correctly unremarkable with regard to abdominal foreign bodies. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal ultrasound and abdominal x-ray both represent valuable diagnostic tools in the assessment of ingested drug packages. Abdominal x-ray is superior to ultrasound in differentiating ingested drug-filled condoms from "pseudocondoms."

Language: en