title: Toothpick perforation of the intestine diagnosed by a small bowel series.
abstract: We report the case of a 50-yr-old man who unknowingly swallowed a double-pointed toothpick that ultimately perforated the distal small bowel over a period of several weeks. Appendicitis and ileitis were sequentially considered as diagnosis. A foreign body was diagnosed on a second small bowel series and removed. It has been noted that, because toothpicks are not radiopaque, radiographic studies are not useful in the diagnostic workup. In the case reported, the toothpick was seen on the contrast radiograph of the small bowel and the correct diagnosis ultimately made.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, South Florida Center for Digestive Diseases, University of Miami School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Guber
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greve
mesh_terms: D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D007079:Ileitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007082:Ileum; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors