title: Foreign body ingestion: rare cause of cervical abscess.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foreign body ingestion is a frequent emergency occurrence. Serious complications, although rare, include pharyngooesophageal perforation, aorto-oesophageal fistula and deep neck infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed of all cases of foreign body ingestion requiring hospitalization between 1989 and 2011, in a tertiary Hospital. Cases complicated by deep cervical abscess were selected and their clinical presentation, results of diagnostic exams, therapeutics and clinical evolution are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among a total of 1679 cases, 319 were related to pediatric patients and 1360 to adults. Two cases were reported (0.12%): an adult, 41 years-old, with parapharyngeal abscess subsequent to fishbone ingestion, and a child, 13 months-old, with retropharyngeal abscess consequent to chicken bone ingestion. Complications appeared three and four days after foreign body removal, respectively. In both situations cervical computerized tomography scan with contrast and surgical drainage were accomplished; the child was also submitted to rigid esophagoscopy for residual foreign body removal and closure of the associated pharyngeal laceration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deep cervical abscesses are an uncommon but possible complication of foreign body ingestion and constitute a diagnostic challenge, particularly in children. Previous oesophageal manipulation by flexible endoscopy may be considered a risk factor for such complication. Imagiological studies proved to be crucial for diagnosis and therapeutic planning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although a rare complication, given a recent history of foreign body ingestion/removal and the presence of compatible symptoms, cervical abscesses should be taken into account, highlighting their potential morbimortality in the absence of an appropriate therapeutic approach.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Centro Hospitalar SÉo JoÉo. Porto Medical School. Porto University. Porto. Portugal.
authors: Liliana
authors: L
authors: Costa
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Centro Hospitalar SÉo JoÉo. Porto Medical School. Porto University. Porto. Portugal.
authors: João
authors: J
authors: Larangeiro
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Centro Hospitalar SÉo JoÉo. Porto Medical School. Porto University. Porto. Portugal.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Pinto Moura
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Centro Hospitalar SÉo JoÉo. Porto Medical School. Porto University. Porto. Portugal.
authors: Margarida
authors: M
authors: Santos
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D012189:Retrospective Studies