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Hypoxic brain injury from drug ingestion

Case contributed by Laughlin Dawes
Diagnosis probable

Presentation

This young adult male patient collapsed on an international flight.

Patient Data

Age: Young adult
Gender: Male

Note: This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.

Bilateral globus pallidus hypodensities are consistent with hypoxic brain injuries.

Rounded heterogeneous structures in the stomach (drug packets).

The “knot sign” - an eccentric low-density nodule on the drug packet, representing the knot in the condom.

Case Discussion

These findings together suggest drug packet rupture followed by collapse, hypoxia and subsequent brain injury.

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