Accidental foreign body aspiration (seamstress needle)
Presentation
Needle accidental aspiration during sewing
Patient Data
Chest and abdomen
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In the anterior basal segment of the left lower lobe there is a needle. Pneumothorax is not detectable.
Chest
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Needle in an anterior segmental bronchus of the left lower lobar bronchus. A tracheal diverticulum is present as an accidental discovery.
Surgical therapy
Resection anterior basal segment of the left lower lobe.
Case Discussion
Aspiration of foreign bodies from the airways is diagnosed in the early stages because it causes symptoms such as dyspnea, wheezing, coughing and screeching as in this patient. In some cases the diagnosis can be difficult due to the absence of typical symptoms or if the foreign body is not radiopaque. CT is the first imaging modality to better study an aspirated foreign body in the bronchial tree. Associated findings on CT can be volume loss, bleeding, hyperlucency with air trapping in the affected lobe.