Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: A 16-year-old boy presented complaining of something sharp in his throat. He developed pain after eating canned sausages and beans. The patient denied any choking or difficulty breathing. His mother shared her son has a habit of chewing on random objects, such as pen caps, bottle caps, and so on. On examination, there were no signs of respiratory distress. He had clear air entry on chest auscultation and a benign abdomen. Lateral neck (Figure 1) and chest radiographs (Figure 2) showed a linear density overlying the trachea at the level of the clavicular heads of undetermined significance, possibly being artifactual. Pediatric surgery performed an endoscopy, which removed a foreign body from the mid-esophagus appearing to be metallic in nature (Figure 3). The Food and Drug Administration has reported potential hazards from ingested metal fragments ≥7 mm in size, which include dental damage, laceration of the mouth or throat, or laceration or perforation of the intestine.1 The use of a can opener may allow for a sliver of the metal lid to become mixed with the contents of the can. Unfortunately, this was likely the case for our patient. With suspected foreign body ingestion, the clinical history and index of suspicion combined with the presence of symptoms should guide imaging and evaluation.2 A high level of suspicion should be maintained, as delays in diagnosis can increase the risk of complications.3
DOI: 10.1002/emp2.12847
Authors: Katherine Bruce, Shamon Gumbs, Chazine Francis, Sheri‐Dawn Cunningham, Alexie Puran
Institution: Harlem Hospital Center
Language: English
Topic: Foreign Body Medical Cases
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,200
OpenAlex ID: W4308908044