title: An unusual foreign body in the cricopharynx; first case report managed endoscopically.
abstract: A foreign body at the cricopharynx level is a common problem to any otolaryngologist worldwide. Coins, pencil tips, screws are usually found in children but are rarely seen in adults in the cricopharynx. We present an unusual case in a 30-year-old female who swallowed an Ayurvedic tablet. She complained of dysphagia and was unable to swallow even liquids. To our surprise, on the X-ray of the neck, a radiopaque shadow was noted in the cricopharynx. We removed it by hypopharyngoscopy and in the follow up period, the patient had no squeals. Any foreign bodies in the cricopharynx should be removed quickly to avoid complications like erosion. To our knowledge, the radiopaque shadow of a tablet observed on the X-ray of the neck is the first case being reported in the world literature.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Physiology, Maharishi Markandeshwer Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011859:Radiography
keywords: Ayurvedic tablet; cricopharynx; dysphagia; hypopharyngoscopy; mercury