Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Abdominal Radiology
Published in: Abdominal Radiology 3/2013

01-06-2013

Detection of body packing by magnetic resonance imaging: a new diagnostic tool?

Authors: Mesut Bulakci, Bora Ozbakir, Adem Kiris

Published in: Abdominal Radiology | Issue 3/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

In this study, we aimed to describe non-contrast abdominal MRI findings in body packers and emphasize the role of this imaging technique in diagnosis of body packing.

Materials and methods

Non-contrast abdominopelvic MRI was performed at the radiology department in 16 suspected body packers that were brought to our hospital, and 13 of them were diagnosed with body packing. We evaluated the presence, location, and shapes of packets as well as signal characteristics on T1- and T2-weighted images.

Results

We came across two types of packets: those containing solid substances (10 cases) and those filled with liquid cocaine (3 cases). Both types were accurately diagnosed with the help of MRI. Only 1 suspected body packer received a false positive diagnosis.

Conclusion

Abdominopelvic MRI is a reliable and valuable method of diagnosing body packing.
Literature
1.
Traub SJ, Hoffman RS, Nelson LS (2003) Body packing—the internal concealment of illicit drugs. N Engl J Med 349(26):2519–2526PubMedCrossRef
2.
Taheri MS, Hassanian-Moghaddam H, Birang S, et al. (2008) Swallowed opium packets: CT diagnosis. Abdom Imaging 33:262–266PubMedCrossRef
3.
Hergan K, Kofler K, Oser W (2004) Drug smuggling by body packing: what radiologists should know about it. Eur Radiol 14(4):736–742PubMedCrossRef
4.
Ab Hamid S, Abd Rashid SN, Mohd Saini S (2012) Characteristic imaging features of body packers: a pictorial essay. Jpn J Radiol 30(5):386–392PubMedCrossRef
5.
Yang RM, Li L, Feng J, et al. (2009) Heroin body packing: clearly discerning drug packets using CT. South Med J 102(5):470–475PubMedCrossRef
6.
Pidoto RR, Agliata AM, Bertolini R, et al. (2002) A new method of packaging cocaine for international traffic and implications for the management of cocaine body packers. J Emerg Med 23(2):149–153PubMedCrossRef
7.
Brown JA, Phang PT, Enns R, et al. (2002) Computed tomography to detect body packing: an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction. Can Assoc Radiol J 53:84–86PubMed
8.
Aldrighetti L, Graci C, Paganelli M, et al. (1993) Intestinal occlusion in cocaine packet ingestion. Minerva Chir 48:1233–1237PubMed
9.
Hutchins KD, Pierre-Louis PJ, Zaretski L, et al. (2000) Heroin body packing: three fatal cases of intestinal perforation. J Forensic Sci 45(1):42–47PubMed
10.
Cawich SO, Downes R, Martin AC, et al. (2010) Colonic perforation: a lethal consequence of cannabis body packing. J Forensic Leg Med 17(5):269–271PubMedCrossRef
11.
Schmidt S, Hugli O, Rizzo E, et al. (2008) Detection of ingested cocaine-filled packets—diagnostic value of unenhanced CT. Eur J Radiol 67(1):133–138PubMedCrossRef
12.
Booker RJ, Smith JE, Rodger MP (2009) Packers, pushers and stuffers—managing patients with concealed drugs in UK emergency departments: a clinical and medicolegal review. Emerg Med J 26(5):316–320PubMedCrossRef
13.
Deitel M, Syed AK (1973) Intestinal obstruction by an unusual foreign body. Can Med Assoc J 109(3):211–212PubMed
14.
Wong G, Lai K, Chung C (2005) Management of body packers in the emergency department. Hong Kong J Emerg Med 12(2):112–118
15.
Hierholzer J, Cordes M, Tantow H, et al. (1995) Drug smuggling by ingested cocaine-filled packages: conventional x-ray and ultrasound. Abdom Imaging 20:333–338PubMedCrossRef
16.
Niewiarowski S, Gogbashian A, Afaq A, Kantor R, Win Z (2010) Abdominal X-ray signs of intra-intestinal drug smuggling. J Forensic Leg Med 17(4):198–202PubMedCrossRef
17.
Karhunen PJ, Suoranta H, Penttilä A, Pitkäranta P (1991) Pitfalls in the diagnosis of drug smuggler’s abdomen. J Forensic Sci 36(2):397–402PubMed
18.
Burillo-Putze G, Becker LT, Rodríguez MG, Torres JS, Nogué S (2012) Liquid cocaine body packers. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 50(6):522–524CrossRef
19.
de Bakker JK, Nanayakkara PW, Geeraedts LM Jr, et al. (2012) Body packers: a plea for conservative treatment. Langenbecks Arch Surg 397:125–130PubMedCrossRef
20.
Meijer R, Bots ML (2003) Detection of drug containers by ultrasound scanning: an airport screening tool? Eur Radiol 13:1312–1315PubMed
21.
Yang RM, Li L, Feng J, et al. (2009) Heroin body packing: clearly discerning drug packets using CT. South Med J 102(5):470–475PubMedCrossRef
22.
Wackerle B, Rupp N, von Clarmann M, et al. (1986) Demonstration of narcotic packages in “body packers” by various imaging methods. In vitro and in vivo investigations. Fortschr Roentgenstr 145:274–277CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Detection of body packing by magnetic resonance imaging: a new diagnostic tool?
Authors
Mesut Bulakci
Bora Ozbakir
Adem Kiris
Publication date
01-06-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Abdominal Radiology / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 2366-004X
Electronic ISSN: 2366-0058
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-012-9972-5

Other articles of this Issue 3/2013

Abdominal Radiology 3/2013 Go to the issue

OriginalPaper

Hepatic adenomatosis: spectrum of imaging findings

OriginalPaper

Pancreaticobiliary disorders: comparison between magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography images before and after fentanyl injection

OriginalPaper

Hepatic angiomyolipoma: CT and MR imaging findings with clinical–pathologic comparison

Report

Pre-embolization evaluation of high-flow priapism: magnetic resonance angiography of the penis

Report

Obturator hernia of the fallopian tube

OriginalPaper

Diagnostic performance of somatostatin receptor PET/CT using 68Ga-DOTANOC in gastrinoma patients with negative or equivocal CT findings
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

Read more

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology Video

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

Cardiopulmonary Comorbidity Video

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Valvular Heart Disease Video

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discuss last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Heart Failure Video

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Watch now

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discuss last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits