title: Delayed diagnosis of intracerebral foreign body from the Vietnam War.
abstract: We report on a 22-year-old infantryman who sustained a right frontal wound to his head. He was treated and returned to duty immediately. During a computed tomography scan, 38 years after the incident, a metallic foreign body and disruption of the brain consistent with a projectile track were discovered in his brain. In this report, we review similar cases of delayed discovery of unsuspected foreign bodies and the probable nature of the wound.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service (RR&D), Office of Research and Development, Department of Veteran Affairs, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, 1601 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608-1197, USA.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gullett
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Crosson
mesh_terms: D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005625:Frontal Lobe; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D047829:Vietnam Conflict; D055815:Young Adult