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An unusual foreign body in the oesophagus. The body packer syndrome

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Abstract

We report a case of drug smuggling by internal concealment of heroin in the oesophagus. We review the literature and discuss presentation and management highlighting the need to maintain an awareness of “body packer syndrome” in the differential diagnosis of ingested foreign bodies.

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Author notes

  1. Petros D. Karkos

    Present address: 3 Douglas Court, Walnut Street Residences, Walnut Street, Leicester, LE2 7GJ, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical school, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK

    Petros D. Karkos, Angus J. Cain & Paul S. White

Authors
  1. Petros D. Karkos
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  2. Angus J. Cain
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  3. Paul S. White
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Petros D. Karkos.

Additional information

This work was presented as a poster at the Scottish Otolaryngological Society Summer Meeting, Perth, Scotland, UK, June 2002.

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Karkos, P.D., Cain, A.J. & White, P.S. An unusual foreign body in the oesophagus. The body packer syndrome. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 262, 154–156 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-004-0736-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-004-0736-x

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