Impacted radio-opaque glass in the oesophagus of a child.
Most ingested foreign bodies in the aero-digestive tracts in both children and adults are not radio-opaque, and as a result, a preoperative plain radiograph may not be helpful. However, incorporating radio-opaque markers into such potential foreign bodies like toys, beads, and dentures during manufacture (as illustrated in this case of a 6-year-old boy who ingested a piece of glass mirror which was easily seen on X-ray) would obviate this problem. While this may constitute some financial burden on manufacturers, the cost effectiveness on health management is non-negotiable. We suggest that appropriate authorities and regulatory bodies should enforce this through legislation.
Ibekwe
Titus S
TS
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. ibekwets@yahoo.com
Fasunla
James A
JA
Akinola
Moronke D
MD
Nwaorgu
Onyekwere G B
OG
D002648:Child; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography