Diagnostic Parameters for Body Packers

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to present our experience about the cases brought with the suspicion of body packing and our algorithm to diagnose those cases. Material and Method: Our study was conducted with 47 of 55 patients brought to the emergency department of our tertiary care hospital by the narcotic police from a major airport in our city with the suspicion of carrying a substance in their bodies. Results: Computed tomography showed the presence and absence of capsules with 100% accuracy. No false positive or false negative results were obtained from any admitted patients. The power of computed tomography to detect both the presence and absence of a capsule is determined as p<0.001 according to the statistical analysis Conclusion: In our study, it is seen that the most appropriate imaging method for diagnosing patients brought to the emergency room due to substance carrying in the body is abdominal noncontrast tomography. Blood tests do not give an absolute result about whether the patient carries substances. Considering all these results, non-contrast abdominal computed tomography is recommended for patients that are brought in with the suspicion of substance carrying in their bodies.

Keywords

• body packer
• computed tomography
• diagnosis

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