The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology
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Am J Forensic Med Pathol · Dec 2017
Case ReportsDeath by "Snow"! A Fatal Forensic Case of Cocaine Leakage in a "Drug Mule" on Postmortem Computed and Magnetic Resonance Tomography Compared With Autopsy.
This forensic case presents unique postmortem imaging of a "drug mule" with fatal intoxication due to cocaine leakage on postmortem computed and magnetic resonance (MR) tomography compared with autopsy. Imaging by postmortem computed and MR tomography was performed before autopsy, histology, and toxicology were commissioned. Forensic imaging revealed 91 hyperdense, uniformly shaped body packs with signs of leakage, which was confirmed by autopsy. ⋯ Toxicology stated the dosage of cocaine intoxication as lethal. This case provides an opportunity to image internal cocaine drug containers on postmortem computed and MR tomography. The cause of death could be determined based on imaging and the radiological morphology of these packs by both imaging methods.