Part 2: Devices of the Head, Neck, Spine, Chest, and Abdomen

Incidental detection of bilateral cochlear implants on panoramic radiography: Case report associated with antecedent traumatic brain injury

Patients with chronic and severe hearing loss, refractory to nonsurgically-worn devices, may consider use of cochlear implants to regain auditory capability. Cochlear implants consist of surgically emplaced and externally worn components. There are few published examples of the radiographic presentation of these devices appearing in the special needs-based dental literature. This article features a case report and panoramic radiographic examination involving a 67-year-old patient who received bilateral cochlear implants after experiencing a traumatic brain injury and onset loss of hearing. A brief review of strategies for communicating with individuals with severe hearing impairment has also been provided.

Endovascular coils mimicking accidental ingestion of a dental-related foreign body in radiographic imaging

If a foreign body is seen on chest or abdominal radiographs, accidental aspiration or ingestion of a dental-related foreign body may be suspected. This report describes a case in which vascular embolization coils seen on radiography were suspected to represent a swallowed dental prosthesis. A 72-year-old man with a history of endovascular embolization of portosystemic shunt was admitted for mandibular fracture. On hospital day 2, a foreign body was noted on chest radiographs taken to confirm pleural effusion. No foreign body had been evident on radiographs of the same area the previous day. The foreign body was suspected to be a dental prosthesis, but intraoral examination ruled out this possibility, and the foreign body turned out to be metal coils used to embolize the shunt. Dentists and oral surgeons should be aware that medical devices such as vascular embolization coils can produce images similar to a dental-related foreign body on chest or abdominal radiographs, and dental-related foreign body ingestion or aspiration should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Misplaced devices in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis: Part II

Numerous medical devices are used in the chest and fewer in the abdomen and pelvis. They are frequently seen on various radiological studies in daily practice. Knowing the specific name of the device is not important. However, knowing the proper positioning and function of the device is necessary. It is a duty of the reporting radiologist to recognize the malpositioning or breakage of a medical device and to inform the responsible physician promptly, since these complications can have undesirable consequences and sometimes a fatal outcome.

Misplaced Devices in the Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis: Part I

Numerous medical devices are used in the chest and fewer in the abdomen and pelvis. They are frequently seen on various radiological studies in daily practice. Knowing the specific name of the device is not important. However, knowing the proper positioning and function of the device is necessary. It is a duty of the reporting radiologist to recognize the malpositioning or breakage of a medical device and to inform the responsible physician promptly, since these complications can have undesirable consequences and sometimes a fatal outcome.