@article{ref1,
title="Drug smuggling by ingested cocaine-filled packages: conventional x-ray and ultrasound",
journal="Abdominal imaging",
year="1995",
author="Hierholzer, J. and Cordes, M. and Tantow, H. and Keske, U. and Mäurer, J. and Felix, R.",
volume="20",
number="4",
pages="333-338",
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 &quot;body packers.&quot; 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 &quot;pseudocondoms.&quot;<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0942-8925",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}