[Pericardial foreign body: an unusual cause of chest pain in children].
Penetrating thoracic trauma by a needle or pin is rarely described in children. Localization of the needle may sometimes be difficult. The needle can migrate from the entrance site into many organs with time and cause little initial morbidity. We describe the case of a 14-year-old male patient with a sewing needle accidentally inserted through the chest wall. The foreign body had migrated spontaneously to the pericardium. A computed tomography scan of the chest is needed to determine the location of the needle and show any complications. Pericardium foreign bodies are dangerous and need electrocardiography and cardiac ultrasound before treatment. Removal of the needle by thoracotomy or thoracoscopy is indicated.
Hôpital Morvan, CHU de Brest, France. caroline.linard@chu-brest.fr
C
C
Linard
P
P
Marques
E
E
Bezon
N
N
Delaperriere
I
I
Germouty
B
B
Fenoll
P
P
de Vries
D000293:Adolescent; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000293:injuries*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*