title: Button batteries in the ear, nose and cervical esophagus: a destructive foreign body.
abstract: Button batteries spontaneously leak alkaline electrolyte solution on exposure to moisture, causing liquefaction necrosis of adjacent tissue. We describe two cases in which a button battery in the external auditory meatus caused skin, bone and tympanic membrane necrosis. Review of the world literature on button batteries acting as foreign bodies reveals lower motor neurone facial nerve palsy, nasal septal perforation and fatal esophago-aortic fistula as among the ENT complications. Batteries lodged in these sites must be removed as a matter of the utmost urgency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, England.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McRae
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Premachandra
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gatland
mesh_terms: D000468:Alkalies / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004424:Ear Canal; D011211:Electric Power Supplies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000209:etiology; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies