Role of plain radiography in the assessment of ingested foreign bodies in the pediatric patients

Adult Esophageal Foreign Bodies

This manuscript reviews and outlines the necessary tools to efficiently assess and manage an adult patient where an esophageal foreign body is suspected. It reviews the vulnerable populations and relevant diagnostics and provides a triage diagram to aid in timely intervention. Management with esophagoscopy is reviewed as well as potential complications that may arise. Lastly, to illustrate the concepts of this section, a case study is presented to highlight the salient points.

Imaging approach to ingested foreign bodies in the neck

Foreign body ingestion is a common clinical occurrence worldwide, with high morbidity in the pediatric population and in adult patients with intentional attempts. Coins and button battery ingestions are more common among children. Bone impaction and swallowed dentures are usually seen in older adults. While most ingested foreign bodies pass through the gastrointestinal tract spontaneously with no complications, some require endoscopic and/or surgical intervention. Complications such as pharyngoesophageal ulceration, perforation, stricture, and deep neck infection can develop without timely diagnosis and management. The purpose of this article is to familiarize radiologists with the imaging approach to assess for characteristics and impacted locations of ingested foreign bodies in the neck.

Plain radiography has a role to play in current clinical practice in Western Switzerland

AIM

The aim of the study was to investigate the current role of conventional radiography examinations in Western Switzerland and the main clinical indications required to justify the use of this imaging examination.

METHODS

Ethical approval was obtained from Vaud Ethics committee (Ref 2020-00311). An online questionnaire was specifically designed and implemented on the data collection tool LimeSurvey composed of two parts: a) to characterise the participants' profile and their institutions and b) 169 projections for the different anatomical area (upper and lower limbs, pelvis, skull, spine, thorax, abdomen) were presented to collect data about the frequency and main clinical indications. Statistical analysis was performed using the software IBM SPSS® (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 26.

RESULTS

Radiographers from 60% (26/43) of the invited institutions participated in this survey, mainly from Vaud region. The upper and lower limbs were the most commonly examined by using conventional radiography mainly for trauma and degenerative disorders. The thorax was also an anatomical area commonly explored by X-rays, so were the spine (cervical and lumbar lateral). The skull radiographs were rarely performed in clinical practice and some of the projections were not being used, namely Hirtz, Tangential Nose Bones, Worms and Caldwell's views.

CONCLUSIONS

Plain radiography is being used in clinical practice mainly for appendicular skeleton studies and for trauma and degenerative pathologies. Adaptations in radiographers' education and training and other healthcare professionals are needed to provide the judicious use of data that radiographs can give to better manage the patients' imaging pathway.

Diamonds in the appendix

Background

An uncommon cause of appendicitis is the entrapment of ingested foreign objects in the appendix. Although a rare event, it could remain asymptomatic for a prolonged time. The presence of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract has a high potential for complications, in particular if sharp or large enough in size to cause obstruction. However, most often an ingested foreign object would be eliminated in the stool. Rarely, it may reside in the appendix depending on various factors such as the nature of the ingested body and the appendiceal peristaltic movements.

Case presentation

We report a case of abdominal pain due to a diamond earring trapped in the appendix for 2 years. A plain X-ray of the abdomen confirmed the diagnosis which prompted a laparoscopic appendectomy resulting in resolution of symptoms.

Conclusion

The initial presentation of an ingested foreign object can be similar to signs of symptoms of acute appendicitis and the patient must be monitored for several days to follow the trajectory of the foreign body in order to prevent complications. Even though the incidence is more common among the pediatric population, vigilance among adults should also be undertaken with a history of ingesting a foreign object, as this case demonstrates the importance of keeping a high index of suspicion when encountering such cases.

Anterior chest wall non-traumatic diseases: a road map for the radiologist

The anterior chest wall (AWC) non-traumatic pathologies are largely underestimated, and early detection through imaging is becoming increasingly important. This paper aims to review the major non-traumatic ACW pathologies, with a particular interest in imaging features and differential diagnosis. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Diagnostic and interventional radiology: an update

NOT PRESENT.

Internal Jugular Vein Injury by Fishbone Ingestion

Fishbone ingestion is a common occurrence in the Middle East countries. We present a patient with a unique complication of fishbone ingestion. A 65-year-old woman presented with left-sided neck pain and swelling since 5 days before admission. A linear foreign body with horizontal orientation was seen in CT scan at the superior part of the pharynx along with a collection around it which caused a laceration on the medial aspect of internal jugular vein and thrombosis inside the internal jugular vein.

Ear, nose, and throat foreign bodies in adults: A population-based study in Taiwan

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

This study performed a population-based analysis in the managements of adult ear, nose, and throat FBs in Taiwan.

METHODS

The Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 were used, which comprises 1,000,000 beneficiaries randomly sampled in 2000 with a follow-up period from 2000 to 2013. Patients aged >18 years with ear, nose, or throat FB were identified according to the International Codes of Diseases.

RESULTS

In total, 94,312 adults with ear (n = 21,786), nose (n = 1007), throat (n = 62,986), airway (n = 419), or esophageal (n = 8114) FB were identified. Emergency department visits were most common among patients with esophageal or airway FB (33.3% and 25.1%, respectively). X-rays were most commonly performed for patients with esophageal FB (44.8%), and computed tomography (CT) was most commonly used for those with airway FB (4.3%). Hospitalization rate was the highest among patients with airway FB (7.4%), followed by those with esophageal (3.0%) and nose (0.7%) FB. Patients with airway FBs corresponded with the highest rate of intensive care unit stay (58.1%), longest hospital stay (10.5 days), and highest in-hospital mortality rate (25.8%). A multiple logistic regression model indicated that old age, medical comorbidities, undergoing CT, and airway or esophageal FB were associated with hospitalization among adults with FB.

CONCLUSION

Disparities were identified in the treatment of ear, nose, and throat FB in adults. This study provides population-based data that may serve as a reference for otolaryngologists in clinical FB management.

Pediatric Ingestions of Christmas Past, Present, and Future: A Review of Holiday Trends, 1997 to 2015

During the observance of Christmas, many families display decorations, which increases the risk of unfettered access and subsequent ingestion of small objects by children in the home. Our aim was to characterize the epidemiology of Christmas foreign body ingestion (CFBI) by children. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System data from 1997 to 2015 were obtained for children aged 0 to 17 years who presented to United States Emergency Departments matching "ingested" for "artificial Christmas trees"; "Christmas tree lights"; "Christmas tree stands or supports"; "Christmas decorations, nonelectric"; and "Christmas decorations, electric" (excluding tree lights). An estimated 22 224 children (95% confidence Interval = 18 107-26 340) presented to the emergency department for CFBI over the study period. Children aged 2 years and younger ingested Christmas objects most frequently ( P < .001). CFBI visits demonstrated a seasonal trend ( P < .001). Christmas decoration ingestions are a frequent reason for children to present to the ED, which require dedicated awareness for appropriate diagnosis and care.

Ingestion of nine metallic nails with corrosive: what happened next?

A 20-year-old woman was brought to the surgery emergency department with the complaint of epigastric pain since 1 day following ingestion of multiple metallic nails with a cup full of toilet cleaner (corrosive acid) with a suicidal intention. Physical examination was essentially unremarkable, and the abdomen showed no signs of perforation peritonitis. X-rays of the abdomen showed multiple 'nail'-like radiopaque shadows in the abdominal cavity with no evidence of free gas under the domes of the diaphragm. A non-operative expectant management was pursued. The patient had passed all the sharps in stools without any complication and was discharged after 12 days. After 3 weeks, the patient presented with non-bilious vomiting. Further investigations revealed pyloric stenosis with no oesophageal luminal stenosis. To bypass the pyloric stenosis, a Billroth II gastrojejunostomy was performed. The postoperative period was uneventful, and the recovery was smooth.

Endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis of foreign bodies of the colon and rectum

Although the ingestion of foreign bodies is a common clinical problem, severe complications such as perforation are rare and occur in less than 1% of cases. Different types of foreign bodies and the various affected regions within the gastrointestinal tract make foreign body ingestion a complex entity, with a wide range of presentation requiring different diagnostic modalities. We report two cases of patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound for evaluation of sub-epithelial lesions consisting of foreign body granulomas in the colon and rectum. Colorectal foreign body granuloma is a rare complication after accidental ingestion. Endoscopic ultrasound can be a useful diagnostic tool and can avoid the need for more invasive procedures.

Abdominal radiograph pearls and pitfalls for the emergency department radiologist: a pictorial review

Abdominal plain films are often the first imaging examination performed on a patient with abdominal pain in the emergency department. Radiograph findings can help guide clinical management and the need for advanced imaging. A pictorial review of a range of abdominal radiograph findings is presented, including bowel gas patterns, abdominal organ evaluation, pathologic gas, calcifications, implanted devices, and foreign bodies.

Role of Sonography for Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies

Foreign body ingestion is frequently encountered in children. The locations of the foreign bodies and the period during which they have been present in the thorax and abdomen are important for determining the method and timing of treatment. Although plain radiography and computed tomography are primarily used for assessment of foreign bodies, sonography without radiation is also useful for diagnosis of foreign bodies. This report describes 5 cases of foreign bodies in the digestive tract and the usefulness of sonography for real-time evaluation of foreign bodies with high spatial resolution. Physicians can use sonography along with radiography and computed tomography in cases involving foreign bodies.

A dental nightmare, resolved: what a radiologist needs to know when consulted about ingestion of dental foreign body material

Ingestion of dental foreign bodies, while relatively rare, may cause serious, and occasionally fatal, injuries to the airways and gastrointestinal tract. Numerous case reports are available describing the clinical course of such ingestions. The aim of this paper is to develop concise, practical recommendations to aid radiologists in providing clinically relevant diagnostic information, thereby accelerating detection and management of acute ingestion of dental material.

Efficiency of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in pediatric surgical practice

After the introduction of flexible fiber optic endoscopy to pediatric gastroenterology in the 1970s, upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy can be performed for the diagnosis and treatment of all age groups of children. We review indications, contraindications, preparation of patients for the procedure, and details of diagnostic and therapeutic UGI endoscopy used in pediatric surgery. We also discuss potential complications of endoscopy.