Korean J Gastrointest Endosc.  2011 Apr;42(4):228-231.

A Case of a Pharyngeal Impacted Fish Bone Foreign Body Detected by Finger Palpation

• Kim HU
• Song HJ
• Choi EK
• Cho YK
• Song BC

Abstract

Emergent endoscopy is needed in cases of a fish bone foreign body in the upper gastrointestinal tract. A fish bone foreign body is common in the oral cavity and pharynx and has a high rate of complications because of the characteristic shape. A diagnosis is very difficult when the foreign body penetrates and impacts the surrounding tissue. Computed tomography is useful for the diagnosis; however, direct removal would be impossible if the foreign body was not localized during endoscopy. If the foreign body is anchored to the oral cavity and pharynx, finger palpation is useful to find the impacted fish bone. We report here on a case of an endoscopically missed pharyngeal impacted fish bone foreign body that was finally detected by finger palpation and successfully removed by rescue endoscopy.

Keyword

Pharynx; Foreign body; Fish bone; Finger palpation; Endoscopy

MeSH Terms

Endoscopy
Fingers
Foreign Bodies
Mouth
Palpation
Pharynx
Upper Gastrointestinal Tract