Presentation
The patient presented to the ED with a history of having swallowed a plastic tab which he now feels in the throat.
Patient Data
X-rays soft tissue neck: Frontal and lateral projections.
3.1 cm long radiopacity projects over the lower cervical esophagus ( C7/T1 ) on the lateral projection, consistent with an ingested foreign body. This is not well appreciated in the frontal projection.
A foreign body is visible.
Foreign body. Retrieved before the expiry date.
Case Discussion
The foreign body is only visible on lateral radiograph, where it has an intermediate density (not clearly metal). An explanation for the non-visibility on frontal radiograph is its position en face.
Case courtesy of Dr Siddharth Sood (Consultant Hepatologist & Gastroenterologist, Royal Melbourne Hospital).