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Right Under Your Nose! A Search for a Dislodged Tooth Discovered in the Nasopharynx by Lateral Neck Radiograph

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: During nasotracheal intubation for mandibular fixation surgery in an 85-year-old man, a loose tooth was inadvertently dislodged and remained undetected despite repeated laryngoscopic and bronchoscopic exploration. Antero-posterior chest, abdominal, and neck x-rays also failed to locate the tooth. A lateral neck radiograph was then obtained, which revealed the tooth in the nasopharynx. A nasopharyngeal airway was inserted, enabling the tooth to be successfully displaced caudally and extracted. This case highlights the value of lateral neck x-rays in identifying foreign bodies, especially in supine patients where objects may fall posteriorly and cephalad into the nasopharynx.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.83201

Authors: Christopher R Parrino, Ron E Samet

Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore

Language: English

Topic: Foreign Body Medical Cases

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4409915891