Joel Aissa, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Christian Rubbert MD, Abstract Co-Author: Fellowship funded, Koninklijke Philips NV

Patric Kroepil MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christoph Schleich, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gerald Antoch MD, Abstract Co-Author: Speaker, Siemens Medical AG Speaker, Bayer AG Speaker, BTG International Ltd

Falk Roland Miese MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Body packing is an increasingly upcoming form of contraband worldwide. Due to the limitations of conventional radiography low dose computed tomography (CT) has been established as method of choice for detecting illicit drugs. Omission of abdominal CT in cases with positive CT- localizer leads to a further reduction of radiation dose. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of CT- localizers in the detection of illegal body packets.

108 patients (86 men, 19 women; mean age, 34.3 ± 8.7 years (range, 18-56 years) were included into this study. All suspects were referred to our institute between March 2012 to March 2013. Presence of body packs was assessed in consensus by two radiologists with two and seven years of professional experience. The blinded observers compared the CT- localizer and the axial low dose CT images. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value, sensitivity and specificity of the CT- localizer were calculated.

The sensitivity of CT- localizer for detection of packs was 0.68 (19 of 28), and specificity was 1.00. In 28 (26%) of 108 cases packs were detected in axial CT images. Packets were discovered in the CT- localizer of 19 (18%) suspects. There were no cases assessed as false positive. The omission of the axial low dose CT-images would have led to a mean radiation dose reduction of 2.0 ± 0.5 mSv in this study. The positive predictive value was 1.0 and the negative predictive value was 0.89.

The value of CT- localizers lies in their high PPV. They are limited by low sensitivity, compared to axial CT images in detection of potential body packers.

In positive cases the high PPV of CT- localizer may possibly allow to omit the full axial low dose abdominal CT to get even lower radiation exposure.

Aissa, J, Rubbert, C, Kroepil, P, Schleich, C, Antoch, G, Miese, F, Diagnostic Value of CT- localizer and Axial Low-dose Computed Tomography for the Detection of Drug Body Packing.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14045595.html