The Eye in the Neck: Removal of a Sewing Needle from the Posterior Pharyngeal Wall

Foreign body ingestion is a frequent presenting complaint to most emergency departments but the finding of a sewing needle in the posterior pharynx particularly is a rare finding. We report a case of a male patient with a sewing needle lodged in the posterior pharynx despite a history suggestive of...

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Main Authors: Samit N. Unadkat, Rishi Talwar, Neil Tolley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/608343
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author Samit N. Unadkat
Rishi Talwar
Neil Tolley
author_facet Samit N. Unadkat
Rishi Talwar
Neil Tolley
author_sort Samit N. Unadkat
collection DOAJ
description Foreign body ingestion is a frequent presenting complaint to most emergency departments but the finding of a sewing needle in the posterior pharynx particularly is a rare finding. We report a case of a male patient with a sewing needle lodged in the posterior pharynx despite a history suggestive of chicken bone ingestion, absent clinical features, and negative flexible endoscopic examination. The needle was only identified through cervical spine radiographs. Even subsequent pharyngoscopy, laryngoscopy, and upper oesophagoscopy all proved to be unremarkable with the patient eventually requiring a left neck exploration to remove the needle. The case outlines the importance of simple radiography in suspected foreign body ingestion, even though clinical and endoscopic findings may be unremarkable.
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spelling doaj-art-629b4278b5124fe39f225dc23dcd187f2025-02-03T01:21:25ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352010-01-01201010.1155/2010/608343608343The Eye in the Neck: Removal of a Sewing Needle from the Posterior Pharyngeal WallSamit N. Unadkat0Rishi Talwar1Neil Tolley2Department of ENT Surgery, St Mary’s Hospital, London W2 1NY, UKDepartment of ENT Surgery, St Mary’s Hospital, London W2 1NY, UKDepartment of ENT Surgery, St Mary’s Hospital, London W2 1NY, UKForeign body ingestion is a frequent presenting complaint to most emergency departments but the finding of a sewing needle in the posterior pharynx particularly is a rare finding. We report a case of a male patient with a sewing needle lodged in the posterior pharynx despite a history suggestive of chicken bone ingestion, absent clinical features, and negative flexible endoscopic examination. The needle was only identified through cervical spine radiographs. Even subsequent pharyngoscopy, laryngoscopy, and upper oesophagoscopy all proved to be unremarkable with the patient eventually requiring a left neck exploration to remove the needle. The case outlines the importance of simple radiography in suspected foreign body ingestion, even though clinical and endoscopic findings may be unremarkable.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/608343
spellingShingle Samit N. Unadkat
Rishi Talwar
Neil Tolley
The Eye in the Neck: Removal of a Sewing Needle from the Posterior Pharyngeal Wall
Case Reports in Medicine
title The Eye in the Neck: Removal of a Sewing Needle from the Posterior Pharyngeal Wall
title_full The Eye in the Neck: Removal of a Sewing Needle from the Posterior Pharyngeal Wall
title_fullStr The Eye in the Neck: Removal of a Sewing Needle from the Posterior Pharyngeal Wall
title_full_unstemmed The Eye in the Neck: Removal of a Sewing Needle from the Posterior Pharyngeal Wall
title_short The Eye in the Neck: Removal of a Sewing Needle from the Posterior Pharyngeal Wall
title_sort eye in the neck removal of a sewing needle from the posterior pharyngeal wall
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/608343
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