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Foreign body - fishbone

Case contributed by Mario Javier Ordoñez Franco
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

4 day history of mid neck pain when swallowing either solid or liquid. Patient referred symptoms initiated after eating fish.

Patient Data

Age: 45 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

There is a marked widening of the prevertebral space and a dense linear structure is noted within.

ct

The CT shows a hyperdense linear structure (fishbone) located in the right prevertebral space associated with gas and small fluid collection.

Airway is not compromised.

Incidental right maxillary sinus congestion.

Case Discussion

Fishbone injury, as in this case, can produce esophageal perforation. Complications associated with this kind of injury are paraesophageal abscess, retropharyngeal abscess and airway injury.

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