title: Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by inadvertent ingestion of blister pill packs: report of two cases diagnosed by MDCT with emphasis on maximal intensity and volume rendering reformations.
abstract: We report two cases of elderly patients presenting with life-threatening complications due to inadvertent accidental ingestion of blister pill packs (BPPs). The first patient presented with obstruction followed by anemia and finally perforation of the small bowel. The second presented with rapidly lethal mediastinitis due to a large perforation of the lower esophagus. The responsible BPPs were identified by multidetector computed tomography and the best result in their characterization was obtained through maximal intensity projections and volume rendering reformations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Clinique St Luc, Rue St Luc 8, Bouge, 5004, Namur, Belgium, bcoulier@skynet.be.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coulier
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rubay
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van den Broeck
authors.forename: Afshin Rezazadeh
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Azar
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maldague
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mailleux
authors.forename: Yorick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lismonde
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bueres
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography