Chicken bone perforation of an irreducible inguinal hernia: a case report and review of the literature

Ingested Chicken Bone (Xiphoid Process) in the Anal Canal: A Case Report and Literature Review

Accidental foreign body (FB) ingestion is common in the elderly, particularly edentulous and denture wearers. The most commonly ingested FBs are food-related, including fish and chicken bones. While small FBs can pass through the gastrointestinal tract without any complications, large or irregular-shaped FBs usually cause complications. These complications include choking, ulceration, perforation, fistula, abscess formation, or even death. Ingestion of a large chicken bone that reaches the anal canal without causing injury is extremely rare. We present a rare case of accidental chicken bone (xiphoid process) ingestion that manifested itself by projecting from the anus while defecating. Interestingly, the patient did not experience any food choking or abdominal pain, nor did she have any type of dementia. However, the patient could not grind food properly due to the loss of her upper molar teeth, which made her develop a habit of rapid swallowing. On examination, the chicken bone was seen within the anus with a sharp edge embedded in the mucosal wall. While a plain pelvic X-ray failed to display the FB, a pelvic CT scan with a 3D illustration showed its dimensions (5.0 x 2.5 x 3 cm). A plain pelvic CT scan confirmed the presence of the bone-contrast FB within the anal canal without injuring the surrounding anatomical structures. The FB was gently manipulated and successfully extracted after administering 5 ml of lidocaine gel enema. The patient was counseled regarding proper chewing habits, and she was referred to a dental clinic for a professional assessment. Seven days later, the patient was seen again at the clinic for a follow-up and was found to have an uneventful recovery. Maintaining good dental health and proper eating habits, as well as increasing awareness among edentulous individuals and denture wearers, are required to prevent accidental FB ingestions.

Unusual Presentation of a Sigmoid Mass with Chicken Bone Impaction in the Setting of Metastatic Lung Cancer

Background

Ingestion of foreign bodies can cause various gastrointestinal tract complications including abscess formation, bowel obstruction, fistulae, haemorrhage, and perforation. While these foreign body-related complications can occur in normal bowel, diseased bowel from inflammation, strictures, or malignancy can cause diagnostic difficulties. Endoscopy is useful in visualising the bowel from within, providing views of the mucosa and malignancies arising from here, but its ability in diagnosing extramural malignancies arising beyond or external to the mucosa of the bowel as in the case of metastatic extramural disease can be limited.

Case Summary

We present the case of a 60-year-old female with an impacted chicken bone in the sigmoid colon with formation of a sigmoid mass, on a background of metastatic lung cancer. On initial diagnosis of her lung cancer, there was mild Positron Emission Tomography (PET) avidity in the sigmoid colon which had been evaluated earlier in the year with a colonoscopy with findings of diverticular disease. Subsequent computed tomography (CT) scans demonstrated thickening of the sigmoid colon with a structure consistent with a foreign body distal to this colonic thickening. A repeat PET scan revealed an intensely fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avid mass in the sigmoid colon which was thought to be inflammatory. She was admitted for a flexible sigmoidoscopy and removal of the foreign body which was an impacted chicken bone. She had a fall and suffered a fractured hip. During her admission for her hip fracture, she had an exacerbation of her abdominal pain. She developed a large bowel obstruction, requiring laparotomy and Hartmann's procedure to resect the sigmoid mass. Histopathology confirmed metastatic lung cancer to the sigmoid colon.

Conclusion

This unusual presentation highlights the challenges of diagnosing ingested foreign bodies in patients with metastatic disease.