Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Gastric Point of Care Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition and Interpretation
Published on: September 22, 2023
Detection of gastric drug packet by ultrasound scanning
Chin Hung Chung1, Wing Tak Fung
1Accident & Emergency Department, North District Hospital, Hong Kong, China. chunch@ha.org.hk
Abstract:
A 53-year-old male drug user was brought to the emergency department by police for suspected drug smuggling by body packing. The abdominal X-ray revealed suspicion of the presence of a drug packet in the gastric antrum, but the patient strongly denied body packing. Abdominal ultrasonography confirmed the presence of a 4.0 x 2.8 cm(2) oval-shaped echogenic mass with posterior shadowing in the gastric antrum. A small plastic bag with many blue tablets was later retrieved by endoscopy. Ultrasonography is recommended in similar cases with doubtful radiological findings.
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