title: Bronchial foreign body presenting as an accidental radiological finding.
abstract: The aspiration of a foreign body in an airway is usually associated with respiratory distress, wheeze and persistent cough. The highest incidence of foreign body inhalation occurs between the age of 1 and 3 years [Ann. Otol. Rhinol. Laryngol. 89 (1980) 434: Med. J. Aust. 2 (1983) 322]. Asymptomatic and long standing foreign bodies may lead to complications such as recurrent pneumonia, bronchiectasis, atelectasis and even death. We present here a case of a metallic bronchial foreign body, which was discovered only as an accidental radiological finding on a chest X-ray, which was done for a mild lower respiratory tract infection, presumably 4 months after such an aspiration.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Lady Hardinge Medical College, 110 001, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sahni
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kansal
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rana
mesh_terms: D001980:Bronchi; D001995:Bronchography; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male