title: Spondylodiscitis and mediastinitis after esophageal perforation owing to a swallowed radiolucent foreign body.
abstract: A 6-year-old boy with aphagia presented with a radiolucent foreign body, esophageal perforation, mediastinitis, and a C6-C7 spondylodiscitis. A rigid plastic gear wheel was removed via thoracotomy, and the mediastinal abscess was drained through the esophagomediastinal fistula. Treatment included antibiotics as well as nonsurgical orthopedic management of the spondylodiscitis. The recovery period was uneventful, and the patient has remained asymptomatic for 2 years. Physicians must be aware of radiolucent foreign bodies. Computed tomography is very helpful in establishing the diagnosis of radiolucent foreign body, mediastinal abscess, and spondylodiscitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fonga-Djimi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leclerc
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinot
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hue
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fourier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deschildre
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Flurin
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D015299:Discitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed