Purpose: To determine parameters related to hyperdensity (>40 HU) of intra-corporeal cocaine packets on low-dose CT (LDCT); hyperdensity increases detectability on abdominal radiographs.
Methods: LDCT showing drug packets (n = 46) were analyzed for mean radiological density and packets volume. Following expulsion, packets weight and cocaine concentration were measured. Hypercompaction was defined as >0.9 g/cm3.
Results: Packets were hyperdense in 33 cases (72%). Mean compaction was 1.0 g/cm3, mean density 118.5 HU and mean cocaine concentration 44.2%. On multivariate analysis, only high compaction remained significantly related to hyperdensity (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Compaction >0.9 g/cm3 is the only parameter significantly associated with hyperdense packets.
Keywords: CT density; Compaction; Intra-corporeal cocaine packets; Low-dose computed tomography.
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