Asymptomatic Intracranial Foreign Body: An Incidental Finding on Radiography.
BACKGROUND
Intracranial needles are rare entities. Intracranial foreign bodies due to non-missile intracranial penetrations are one of the most rarely encountered situations in neurosurgery. Sewing needles are among the more unusual foreign bodies that may be found in the brain. Although uncommon, foreign body cases are important and interesting. Foreign bodies enter the body through trauma or iatrogenic injuries. Needles are mostly inserted through fontanelles, cranial sutures, and more rarely through the orbits in infancy for the purpose of killing unwanted babies.


METHODS
This article presents a case of intracranial foreign body found upon radiography. A 24-year-old female, who two days prior to presentation suffered only once from dizziness, and was otherwise healthy.


CONCLUSIONS
Because this incident may have occurred during the patient's neonatal period, it may be a case of child abuse. In spite of the very limited number of cases in the literature, having a stepmother, a stepfather, or a babysitter, being the youngest child, or having family members who suffer from psychiatric disorders, (especially if these relatives are responsible for child care), living in a society that allows homicide of children born from extramarital relationships, and being female have been suggested as possible risk factors.
Emergency Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Mohammadreza
M
Maghsoudi
School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, IR Iran; Department of Public Health, School of Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Bita
B
Shahbazzadegan
Department of Neurosurgery, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, IR Iran.
Arastoo
A
Pezeshki
Asymptomatic Diseases; CT Scan; Foreign Bodies; Radiography; Radiology; X-Ray