Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 17, Issue 4 , Pages 198-202 , May 2010

Abdominal X-ray signs of intra-intestinal drug smuggling

  • Sylwia Niewiarowski, MBBS, BSc (Radiology)

      Affiliations

    • Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Road, Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex, London UB8 3NN, United Kingdom
    • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 OHS, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Andrew Gogbashian, MBBS, MRCS (Radiology)

      Affiliations

    • Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Road, Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex, London UB8 3NN, United Kingdom
    • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 OHS, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Asim Afaq, MBBS, BSc (Radiology)

      Affiliations

    • Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Road, Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex, London UB8 3NN, United Kingdom
    • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 OHS, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Robin Kantor, MBBS FRCR (Consultant Radiologist)

      Affiliations

    • Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Road, Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex, London UB8 3NN, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Zarni Win, MBBS, BSc (Consultant Radiologist)

      Affiliations

    • Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Road, Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex, London UB8 3NN, United Kingdom
    • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 OHS, United Kingdom
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 OHS, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 (0)1895 238282x3327.

Received 4 June 2009 ,Revised 11 November 2009 ,Accepted 22 December 2009.

References 

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  2. Krishan A, Brown R. Plain abdominal radiography in the diagnosis of the “body packer”. J Accid Emerg Med. 1999;16:381
  3. Welti CV, Mittleman RE. The “bodypacker syndrome” toxicity following ingestion of illicit drugs packaged for transportation. J Forensic Sci. 1981;26:492–500
  4. Beerman R, Nunez D, Wetli C. Radiographic evaluation of the cocaine smuggler. Gastr Radiol. 1986;11:351–354
  5. McCarron MM, Wood JD. The cocaine ‘body packer’ syndrome: diagnosis and treatment. JAMA. 1983;250:1417–1420
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  9. Algra P, Byron B, Roque M. Role of radiology in a national initiative to interdict drug smuggling: the Dutch Experience. AJR. 2007;189:331–336
  10. Caruana DS, Weinbach B, Georg D, Gardner LB. Cocaine packet ingestion. Ann Intern Med. 1984;100:73–74
  11. Hergan K, Kofler K, Oser W. Drug smuggling by body packing: what radiologists should know about it. Eur Radiol. 2004;14:736–742
  12. Sengupta A, Page P. Window manipulation in the diagnosis of body packing using computerized tomography. Emerg Radiol. 2008;15:203–205
  13. Hahn IH, Hoffman RS, Nelson LS. Contrast CT scan fails to detect the last heroin packet. J Clin Toxicol. 1999;37:644–645

PII: S1752-928X(09)00225-X

doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2009.12.013

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 17, Issue 4 , Pages 198-202 , May 2010

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