Contribution of dual-energy computed tomography in the differentiation of illicit drugs

Antoine Boizet; Julien Ognard; Ons Hmandi; Claire Saccardy; David Bourhis; Douraied Ben Salem

doi:10.5114/amsik.2020.104536

eISSN: 1689-1716
ISSN: 0324-8267

Archiwum Medycyny Sądowej i Kryminologii/Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology

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4/2020
vol. 70

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abstract:

Original paper

Contribution of dual-energy computed tomography in the differentiation of illicit drugs

Antoine Boizet

¹

,

Julien Ognard

^{1, 2}

,

Ons Hmandi

³

,

Claire Saccardy

⁴

,

David Bourhis

¹

,

Douraied Ben Salem

^{2, 5}

Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Brest, 29609 Brest Cedex, France
LaTIM-INSERM UMR, Univ Brest, 29238 Brest Cedex 03, France
Department of Legal Medicine Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
Department of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital of Brest, 29609 Brest Cedex, France
Forensic Imaging Department, University Hospital of Brest, 29609 Brest Cedex, France

Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol 2020; 70 (4): 235–241

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/amsik.2020.104536

Online publish date: 2021/03/31

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AMA

Boizet A, Ognard J, Hmandi O, Saccardy C, Bourhis D, Ben Salem D. Contribution of dual-energy computed tomography in the differentiation of illicit drugs. Archiwum Medycyny Sądowej i  Kryminologii/Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology. 2020:235-241. doi:10.5114/amsik.2020.104536.

APA

Boizet, A., Ognard, J., Hmandi, O., Saccardy, C., Bourhis, D.,  & Ben Salem, D. (2020). Contribution of dual-energy computed tomography in the differentiation of illicit drugs. Archiwum Medycyny Sądowej i  Kryminologii/Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology, 235-241. https://doi.org/10.5114/amsik.2020.104536

Chicago

Boizet, Antoine, Julien Ognard, Ons Hmandi, Claire Saccardy, David Bourhis,  and Douraied Ben Salem. 2020. "Contribution of dual-energy computed tomography in the differentiation of illicit drugs". Archiwum Medycyny Sądowej i  Kryminologii/Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology: 235-241. doi:10.5114/amsik.2020.104536.

Harvard

Boizet, A., Ognard, J., Hmandi, O., Saccardy, C., Bourhis, D.,  and Ben Salem, D. (2020). Contribution of dual-energy computed tomography in the differentiation of illicit drugs. Archiwum Medycyny Sądowej i  Kryminologii/Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology, pp.235-241. https://doi.org/10.5114/amsik.2020.104536

MLA

Boizet, Antoine et al. "Contribution of dual-energy computed tomography in the differentiation of illicit drugs." Archiwum Medycyny Sądowej i  Kryminologii/Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology, 2020, pp. 235-241. doi:10.5114/amsik.2020.104536.

Vancouver

Boizet A, Ognard J, Hmandi O, Saccardy C, Bourhis D, Ben Salem D. Contribution of dual-energy computed tomography in the differentiation of illicit drugs. Archiwum Medycyny Sądowej i  Kryminologii/Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology. 2020:235-241. doi:10.5114/amsik.2020.104536.

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Introduction
The objective of this study was to compare the dual-energy behaviour of the main illicit substances as well as their cutting agents in order to be able to differentiate them.

Material and methods
Cocaine, heroin, MDMA, and cannabis as well as 3 adulterants, 2 diluents, and water were scanned at 90 kV and then at 140 kV on a single X-ray tube computed tomography (CT) scanner. The data acquired enabled a mapping of the attenuation values to 90 and 140 kVp as well as a resulting dual-energy index (DEI) mapping.

Results
Drugs, cocaine, MDMA (pill), and cannabis had a positive DEI (0.014–0.008), while heroin and MDMA (powder) had a negative DEI (–0.016 and –0.013). The DEI of water was –0.01 and that of taurine was –0.018. Adulterants had negative DEI, while diluents had a positive DEI. All DEI were significantly different (p < 0.01).

Conclusions
Cocaine and heroin can be clearly differentiated using DEI.

keywords:

Contribution of dual-energy computed tomography in the differentiation of illicit drugs

Antoine Boizet 1 , Julien Ognard 1, 2 , Ons Hmandi 3 , Claire Saccardy 4 , David Bourhis 1 , Douraied Ben Salem 2, 5

dual-energy CT, dual-energy index, illicit drugs, bodypacking

Antoine Boizet

¹

,

Julien Ognard

^{1, 2}

,

Ons Hmandi

³

,

Claire Saccardy

⁴

,

David Bourhis

¹

,

Douraied Ben Salem

^{2, 5}