Differentiation of heroin and cocaine using dual-energy CT-an experimental study.
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State: Public
Version: Final published version
License: Not specified
It was possible to publish this article open access thanks to a Swiss National Licence with the publisher.
Serval ID
serval:BIB_BA0866FF59A6
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Differentiation of heroin and cocaine using dual-energy CT-an experimental study.
Journal
International Journal of Legal Medicine
ISSN
1437-1596 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0937-9827
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2014
Volume
128
Number
3
Pages
475-482
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article Publication Status: ppublish PDF: Original Article
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if heroin and cocaine can be distinguished using dual-energy CT.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty samples of heroin and cocaine at different concentrations and standardized compression (SC) were scanned in dual-energy mode on a newest generation Dual Energy 64-row MDCT scanner. CT number, spectral graphs, and dual-energy index (DEI) were evaluated. Results were prospectively tested on six original samples from a body packer. Wilcoxon's test was used for statistical evaluation.
RESULTS: Values are given as median and range. Under SC, the CT number of cocaine samples (-29.87 Hounsfield unit (HU) [-125.85; 16.16 HU]) was higher than the CT number of heroin samples (-184.37 HU [-199.81; -159.25 HU]; p < 0.01). Slope of spectral curves for cocaine was -2.36 HU/keV [-7.15; -0.67 HU/keV], and for heroin, 1.75 HU/keV [1.28; 2.5 HU/keV] (p < 0.01). DEI was 0.0352 [0.0081; 0.0528] for cocaine and significantly higher than for heroin samples (-0.0127 [-0.0097; -0.0159]; p < 0.001). While CT number was inconclusive, all six original packs were correctly classified after evaluation of the spectral curve and DEI. In contrast to the CT number, slope of the spectral curve and DEI were independent of concentration and compression.
CONCLUSION: The slope of the spectral curve and the DEI from dual-energy CT data can be used to distinguish heroin and cocaine in vitro; these results are independent of compression and concentration in the measured range.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty samples of heroin and cocaine at different concentrations and standardized compression (SC) were scanned in dual-energy mode on a newest generation Dual Energy 64-row MDCT scanner. CT number, spectral graphs, and dual-energy index (DEI) were evaluated. Results were prospectively tested on six original samples from a body packer. Wilcoxon's test was used for statistical evaluation.
RESULTS: Values are given as median and range. Under SC, the CT number of cocaine samples (-29.87 Hounsfield unit (HU) [-125.85; 16.16 HU]) was higher than the CT number of heroin samples (-184.37 HU [-199.81; -159.25 HU]; p < 0.01). Slope of spectral curves for cocaine was -2.36 HU/keV [-7.15; -0.67 HU/keV], and for heroin, 1.75 HU/keV [1.28; 2.5 HU/keV] (p < 0.01). DEI was 0.0352 [0.0081; 0.0528] for cocaine and significantly higher than for heroin samples (-0.0127 [-0.0097; -0.0159]; p < 0.001). While CT number was inconclusive, all six original packs were correctly classified after evaluation of the spectral curve and DEI. In contrast to the CT number, slope of the spectral curve and DEI were independent of concentration and compression.
CONCLUSION: The slope of the spectral curve and the DEI from dual-energy CT data can be used to distinguish heroin and cocaine in vitro; these results are independent of compression and concentration in the measured range.
Keywords
forensic medicine
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
06/06/2014 17:35
Last modification date
09/09/2021 7:13
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