Esophageal perforation by a tooth in child abuse.
A unique case of child abuse in a six-year-old Hispanic girl is reported. In this case, a tooth avulsed and swallowed during an episode of physical abuse and/or sexual abuse, caused an esophageal perforation resulting in a retropharyngeal abscess and mediastinal abscess containing the tooth. Although traumatic esophageal injuries in child abuse have occurred, the presence of a tooth within the mediastinal abscess is an unique manifestation of child abuse.
Ablin
D S
DS
Department of Radiology, University of California, Sacramento.
Reinhart
M A
MA
D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014070:Tooth