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Maurice H. Fainsinger, MD

JAMA. 1977;237(20):2225-2226.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

History

A 19-year-old man was brought into the emergency department in a stuporous state. Shortly after arrival, he had a grand mal seizure and vomited several times. He was admitted for observation.

Examination showed a lethargic, sweating young man with slight abdominal tenderness and guarding. There were no other abnormal physical findings.

Laboratory tests showed a moderate polymorphonuclear leukocytosis. There were decreased amplitude of T waves in all electrocardiographic leads and prominent U waves. A chest roentgenogram was normal. Blood gases indicated respiratory alkalosis. Ventilatory assistance was required during his ten-day hospital stay, during which time evidence of a respiratory infection developed, which cleared promptly on treatment. An abdominal roentgenogram (Figure) was taken on admission.

Diagnosis

Cocaine bags in the colon.

Comment

Multiple oval soft-tissue densities, each highlighted by a gas halo, are visible along the course of the colon and elsewhere in the abdomen in the Figure. These are . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Radiology, Framingham Union Hospital, Framingham, Mass.

Footnotes
Reprints are not available.

Edited by Z. Danilevicius, MD, Senior Editor.

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