Presentation
Foreign body ingestion, dysphagia
Patient Data
Lucent line at retropharyngeal space (air in retropharyngeal space) just anterior to the cervical and upper vertebral bodies, suggesting upper aerodigestive tract perforation
A linear opacity at the hypopharyngeal region anterior to the C3-4 level represents a foreign body.
Yellow arrow showing foreign body (chicken bone).
Case Discussion
The foreign body was a chicken bone removed by indirect laryngoscopy.
The cause of the air leak in the retropharyngeal space may be a local perforation of the upper aerodigestive tract or the air may have tracked from the chest such as may be seen in pneumomediastinum related to asthma or with esophageal perforation. Clinical correlation and chest x-ray or CT exam would be useful for further clarification.
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