Tuberc Respir Dis.  2011 Dec;71(6):450-453.

One Case of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Removal of Acupuncture Needle in Lung Parenchyma

• Jeong YG
• Lee HS
• Choi JS
• Na JO
• Seo KH
• Kim YH
• Lee SJ

Abstract

We report the case of a 32-year-old woman presenting with intermittent chest pain resulted from a migratory acupuncture needle. The patient received acupuncture treatment approximately 3 years prior to this presentation, for the treatment of chronic left shoulder and lumbar pain after delivery. Chest radiography revealed a retained needle in the lingular segmental area. Video-assisted thoracoscopy was then used to remove the migratory acupuncture needle attached between the lingular segmental lobe and the pericardial fat. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged home.

Keyword

Acupuncture; Chest Pain; Thoracic Surgery; Video-Assisted

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture
Adult
Chest Pain
Female
Humans
Lung
Needles
Shoulder
Thoracic Surgery
Thoracoscopy
Thorax

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 A foreign body in the lingular segmental zone on chest x-ray. (A) Chest PA. (B) Chest lateral. PA: Postero-Anterior.

• 

  Figure 2 A linear material with high density in the lingular segment on chest CT. CT: computed tomography.

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  Figure 3 VATS visualization of a retained acupuncture needle penetrating the lingular segment attached to the pericardial fat. The length of the removed needle was about 4 cm. (A) Acupuncture needle. (B) VATS. VATS: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

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