CT in the preoperative diagnosis of fish bone perforation of the gastrointestinal tract.
OBJECTIVE
Foreign body perforation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract has diverse clinical manifestations, and the correct preoperative diagnosis is seldom made. We report our experience with the use of CT in the preoperative diagnosis of fish bone perforation of the GI tract in seven patients. To our knowledge, this series is the largest to date addressing the role of CT in the diagnosis of fish bone perforation.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical presentation and radiography are unreliable in the preoperative diagnosis of fish bone perforation of the GI tract. This limitation can be overcome with the use of CT, which is accurate in showing the offending fish bone. The accuracy of CT is limited by observer dependence. A high index of suspicion should always be maintained for the correct diagnosis to be made.
Goh
Brian K P
BK
Department of Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608. bsgkp@hotmail.com
Tan
Yu-Meng
YM
Lin
Shueh-En
SE
Chow
Pierce K H
PK
Cheah
Foong-Koon
FK
Ooi
London L P J
LL
Wong
Wai-Keong
WK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017747:Seafood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed