title: Subtle perforation of the oesophagus by a foreign body.
abstract: A case of subtle oesophageal perforation caused by a foreign body is described. A 48-year-old woman had had a chicken bone impacted in the upper oesophagus for 4 days. At presentation, the bone was dislodged at endoscopy, and two small round depressions at opposite sides of the oesophageal wall were visible. The chest X-ray findings were normal. Computed tomography of the thorax detected a small amount of air in the mediastinum. The water-soluble contrast swallow test showed no evidence of leakage. The patient was successfully treated using conservative measures.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, North District Hospital, 9 Po Kin Road, Sheung Shui, Hong Kong. chunch@ha.org.hk
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed