Esophageal fish bone migration induced thyroid abscess: case report and review of the literature

Characteristics of fish-bone foreign bodies in the upper aero-digestive tract: The importance of identifying the species of fish

Background

Fish bones are common foreign bodies in the upper aero-digestive tract, but their clinical features in relation to fish species have not been confirmed. We aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of fish-bone foreign bodies and their location and removal methods depending on the fish species.

Study design

Retrospective, observational, monocentric study.

Methods

From October 2015 to May 2020, 368 patients visited the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Tohoku University Hospital complaining of dysphagia, sore throat, or pharyngeal discomfort after eating fish. We analyzed the patients’ sex and age distribution, foreign-body location, type of the fish, and the techniques used for removing the foreign body.

Results

Fish bones were confirmed in the upper aero-digestive tract in 270 cases (73.4%), of which 236 (87.4%) involved fish-bone foreign bodies in the mesopharynx. The most frequently involved site was the palatine tonsil (n = 170). Eel was the most frequently observed fish species (n = 39), followed by mackerel (n = 33), salmon (n = 33), horse mackerel (n = 30), and flounder (n = 30). Among the 240 cases in which the bones did not spontaneously dislocate, 109 (45.4%) were treated by endoscopic removal (103 cases) or surgery (6 cases). In pediatric cases (<12 years old), almost all fish bones were found in the mesopharynx (138/139, 99.3%), and 31 cases (22.3%) required endoscopic removal. Flounder fish bones were often lodged in the hypopharynx and esophagus (9/30, 30%), hindering spontaneous dislocation and frequently necessitating endoscopic or surgical removal (19/29, 65.5%).

Conclusion

The characteristics of fish-bone foreign bodies differed depending on the fish species. Flounder bones were often stuck in the hypopharynx and esophagus and were likely to require more invasive removal methods. Confirming the species of the fish could facilitate appropriate diagnosis and treatment of fish-bone foreign bodies.

Internal drainage of retropharyngeal abscess secondary to esophageal foreign bodies: a case series

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Foreign body oesophagus is a commonly seen emergency in ENT. It is seen both in children and adults. When sharp bony foreign bodies such as chicken, fish, and mutton bone gets impacted in the oesophagus, it predisposes the patient to various complications. The foreign body can migrate extraluminally with time and cause retropharyngeal abscess.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective study over a period of 6 months from November 2019 to April 2020 of patients with foreign body oesophagus. We came across 20 patients with oesophageal foreign bodies and five of them had associated retropharyngeal abscess. Rigid esophagoscopy with foreign body removal and internal drainage of pus through the oesophageal rent followed by conservative management with intravenous antibiotics based on culture and sensitivity was done.

RESULTS

Patients improved drastically as the pus drained into the oesophagus via the rent in the posterior oesophageal wall and did not require an external incision and drainage. They were discharged in a week.

CONCLUSION

Removal of partial extraluminally migrated foreign body oesophagus and internal drainage of the abscess followed by nasogastric feeds till the rent resolves and intravenous pus culture-sensitive antibiotics fastens patient recovery and reduces the morbidity associated with external incision and drainage and oesophageal rent repair.

Sonographic diagnosis of an unusual cervical foreign body that migrated through a pyriform sinus fistula

Foreign body ingestion is common in the pediatric population. We report a case of ingestion of sunflower seeds that migrated in the left neck through a pyriform sinus fistula, ultrasound plays an important role in preoperative diagnosis and is a useful tool for diagnosing both pyriform sinus fistulas and radiolucent foreign bodies.

A Case Report of Migrating Fish Bone to the Thyroid Gland

Fish bone as a foreign body in the throat is common and frequently seen in emergency departments. In most cases, the bone is stuck in the tonsils or oropharynx, some go further to the laryngopharynx, and in rare cases they may go furthest. The authors report a rare case of a fish bone that migrated to the thyroid gland.

Una espina en un pajar: espina de pescado alojada en la tiroides

Introducción. La ingestión accidental de cuerpos extraños como espinas de pescado es muy poco frecuente; en ocasiones, pueden alojarse en el esófago y es posible su migración extraluminal. Este accidente se presenta principalmente en países asiáticos por el gran consulo de pescado. La migración extraluminal de una espina de pescado desde el esófago a la glándula tiroides es aún más infrecuente, con pocos reportes en la literatura. Objetivo. Presentar nuestra experiencia en el diagnóstico y manejo quirúrgico de un paciente con un cuerpo extraño (espina de pescado) alojado en la glándula tiroides y, asimismo, hacer una revisión de la literatura científica. Caso clínico. Se presenta una paciente de 53 años, sin antecedentes de importancia y con un cuadro clínico de tres meses de evolución consistente en odinofagia posterior a la ingestión accidental de una espina de pescado. En la ecografía practicada en otra institución se observó un cuerpo extraño alojado en el lóbulo tiroideo izquierdo en relación con la musculatura del esófago. En la tomografía de cabeza y cuello se apreciaba una imagen hiperdensa lineal de 2,6 cm de longitud en la misma localización. En la exploración quirúrgica se encontró tejido fibrótico en la región posterior del lóbulo tiroideo izquierdo y se procedió a practicar una tiroidectomía subtotal izquierda. La evolución posoperatoria fue adecuada. Conclusiones. La migración extraluminal de cuerpos extraños en el tubo digestivo es factible, sobre todo la de las espinas de pescado por su morfología. La tomografía es la herramienta diagnóstica más confiable para detectar cuerpos extraños alojados en la glándula tiroides. Es necesario conocer las posibles complicaciones y, asimismo, optimizar las posibles intervenciones, pues de eso depende el pronóstico clínico del paciente.  

Migration of a swallowed needle into the cervical spine: case report

Foreign body migration into the cervical spine is rare. Only 3 prior reports of needle migration into the cervical spine exist in the literature. Here, the authors report one such case, where the migrated needle narrowly avoided the thecal sac and vertebral artery. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a migrated swallowed foreign body in the cervical spine.

Aspiration with or without lavage in the treatment of acute suppurative thyroiditis secondary to pyriform sinus fistula

Objective There is currently no consensus regarding the optimal management of acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) secondary to pyriform sinus fistula (PSF). To investigate the benefits and adverse events of aspiration with or without lavage for the treatment of AST secondary to PSF. Subjects and methods This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with AST secondary to PSF who were admitted at the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between August 2012 and December 2018. Clinical information, procedural data, and imaging data were analyzed. Results Seven patients (five women; mean age, 16.9 ± 6.3 years; range, 8-26 years) were included. The patients most presented with anterior neck pain and swelling (n = 7), fever (n = 7), or odynophagia (n = 5). Six cases of AST occurred on the left side of the thyroid and 1 on the right. All patients had thyroid abscess. AST was diagnosed by ultrasound-guided needle aspiration cytology in all cases. PSF was diagnosed during the inflammatory stage in five patients and during the quiescent stage in two. All patients were treated with empiric antibiotics. Needle aspiration without lavage was performed in three cases. Needle aspiration with lavage was performed in four cases. Repeat aspiration was performed in three cases. All patients recovered completely, with no procedure-related complications. During 18.3 ± 7.8 months of follow-up, AST recurred in one case. Excision of the PSF was performed in another case. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided aspiration with or without lavage had a good treatment effect and without adverse events for the management of AST secondary to PSF.

First case report of thyroid abscess caused by Helicobacter cinaedi presenting with thyroid storm

Background

Helicobacter cinaedi is a microaerobic Gram-negative spiral-shaped bacterium that causes enteritis, cellulitis, and bacteremia in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. While there have been increasing numbers of reported H. cinaedi infections recently, there has been no thyroid abscess case caused by H. cinaedi presenting with thyroid storm.

Case presentation

A 50-year-old Japanese man presented with a 9-day history of high fever associated with palpitations, dry cough, and chronic diarrhea. The patient had a history of Basedow’s disease that had been treated with thiamazole in the past. During the current episode, the patient was diagnosed with thyroid storm and treated accordingly. The blood culture taken on admission was positive for H. cinaedi. This finding was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). A systemic computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a thyroid abscess as the site of infection and cause of the bacteremia. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified the pathogen of thyroid abscess as H. cinaedi. Clinical symptoms and laboratory data normalized on admission day 7 after treatment with both effective antibiotics and antithyroid drugs.

Conclusions

The case study described a patient with a history of Basedow’s disease that presented with a thyroid abscess caused by H. cinaedi with symptoms similar to those of thyroid storm. While this bacterium has been implicated in other infections, we believe this is the first time the bacteria has been documented to have caused a thyroid abscess.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-019-3808-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Intraoperative ultrasound-guided retrieval of an extraluminal pharyngoesophageal foreign body

Pharyngoesophageal foreign bodies (FBs) are common otolaryngologic problems, but challenging cases cause significant patient and surgeon frustration. Extraluminal migration of an FB from the pharynx or esophagus is rare and usually necessitates external neck exploration. Approaching these complicated FBs endoscopically may avoid undue surgical morbidity. We present a case using real-time, intraoperative ultrasound (US) guidance for safe retrieval of a migrated submucosal FB. Intraoperative US is a widely available, powerful technology that can aid in the retrieval of difficult pharyngoesophageal FBs. In appropriate cases, this strategy may circumvent transcervical approaches and their associated risks.

Migratory Fish Bone in the Thyroid Gland: Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction

Foreign body stuck in the throat is a common emergency case, which can be removed by the endoscopic treatment. Fish bones are one of the common observed foreign bodies in the pharynx or cervical esophagus. Fish bones have a risk of damaging the mucosa when lodged in the upper digestive tract. Foreign bodies of fish bones located outside the laryngopharyngeal tissue are relatively unusual, and it is even more rare that they remain in the thyroid. It may cause local infection, abscess formation, large blood vessels rupture, and other serious life-threatening complications when the position of the fish bone migrates to the neck. We present a unique case of a 31-year-old woman in whom a fish bone was found in the thyroid. The fish bone had been removed successfully two months after the onset of symptoms. The relevant literature is reviewed and summarized.

Case Presentation

A foreign body which is located in the neck area by swallowing is usually found in the emergency case. One of the commonest foreign bodies is the fish bone. The common presenting symptoms include foreign body (FB) sensation and or a sharp pain during swallowing. But we report a rare case in which a migratory fish bone stuck in the thyroid gland was found after 3 months. We retrieved previous literature and made a summary.

Conclusions

Fish bones are not easy to be found as a foreign body. Surgeons should be aware that fish bones can become lodged in the thyroid gland. Combined with the history should be a wary fish bone to migrate to the case of the thyroid, to avoid misdiagnosis. To confirm the diagnosis, we can take ultrasound, computerized tomographic scanning (CT), and other tests.

Cervical oesophageal perforation secondary to food consumption in a well-appearing patient

A 71-year-old woman presented to the emergency department 8 days after ingesting fish with mild neck pain but otherwise demonstrated no signs of infection. X-rays were negative but CT imaging demonstrated a curvilinear radiodense object extending from the posterior cervical oesophagus through the right thyroid lobe terminating in the neck just a few millimetres from the external carotid artery. Rigid oesophagoscopy and direct laryngoscopy were negative and the neck was explored for the foreign body, which ultimately was encountered after a painstaking dissection of the right neck that included skeletonisation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful and after a 3-day course of intravenous antibiotics she was discharged on oral antibiotics, in good condition and tolerating a soft diet.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis in infected thyroid cyst in an adult patient under hemodialysis

Acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) accompanied by an abscess is a rare clinical case. Hemodialysis patients are at risk for infections. Sepsis mortality was from 100 to 300 times higher for chronic dialysis patients than that for the general public. Thus, special care should be taken against infection in patients under hemodialysis.

Use of a Rigid Curved Laryngoscope for Removal of a Fish Bone in the Hypopharynx

Foreign body ingestion is a commonly encountered clinical problem. In particular, sharp foreign bodies lodged in the esophagus or hypopharynx can cause complications and require urgent removal. Removal by flexible esophagogastroduodenoscopy or rigid esophagoscopy is the treatment of choice and has high success rates, but cases in which these methods are unsuccessful must be treated with an external incision. A 62-year-old man was referred for a fish bone lodged in the hypopharynx that could not be removed by flexible esophagogastroduodenoscopy. We removed the bone transorally using a specially designed rigid curved laryngoscope. Based on our experience, this method may have clear practical value due to advantages of a wide field of view and use of multiple rigid forceps. Indications may be limited, but this novel method may reduce the limitations of noninvasive removal of foreign bodies.

The Hemoptysis and the Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm due to a Fishbone Injury: A Case Report

Ingestion of a foreign body is a common cause of esophageal injury, but hemoptysis is a rare manifestation of the esophageal penetration by a swallowed foreign body. The swallowing of a fishbone is hard to diagnose and the definite diagnosis is usually made during surgery. We describe the case of a 50-year-old man with direct injury to the lung parenchyma, the azygos vein, and the subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm due to a fishbone penetration from the upper esophagus into the lung. To our knowledge, this is the first case report that we know of in which a swallowed foreign body that penetrated from the upper esophagus into the lung caused vascular injuries and lung damage and it was solved by minimally invasive surgery and an endovascular stent.We successfully diagnosed and treated a case with the migration of the fishbone from the upper esophagus into the lung. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan is recommended to clarify the fact of vascular injury before surgery. Thoracoscopic operation (VATS) combined with endovascular treatment could be a safer and a more feasible treatment option in this rare condition.

Detection of Fish Bones in Cod Fillets by UV Illumination

The presence of fish bones is now regarded as an important hazard in fishery products, and there is increasing demand for new analytical techniques to control it more effectively. Here, the fluorescent properties of cod bones under UV illumination were investigated, and the maximal wavelengths for excitation and emission were determined to be 320 nm and 515 nm, respectively, demonstrating significantly different fluorescence characteristics and much higher fluorescence intensity compared to those of fillet muscles. Based on the results, UV fluorescence-assisted candling for the detection of bones in fishery products was developed for the first time. Using cod fillets as samples, the detection ratio of this technique was calculated as 90.86%, significantly higher than that of traditional candling under daylight (76.78%). Moreover, the working efficiency of the new technique was about 26% higher than that of the traditional method. A UV fluorescence imaging framework was also developed, and a method for automatic identification of the fish bones in the cod fillets based on the linear discriminant analysis proposed by Fisher was preliminarily realized, but the detection ratio was demonstrated to be relatively poor compared to those of candling techniques. These results allow us to suggest UV-based methods as new and promising approaches for routine monitoring of bones in fishery products.

Risk factors for esophageal complications of ingestion of fish bones in adults

AIM: To determine the risk factors associated with esophageal complications of ingestion of fish bones in adults.

METHODS: Seventy-five adult patients who had ingestion of fish bones were investigated at our hospital. The complications were analyzed and the risk factor for them were identified with regard to patient characteristics, fish bone characteristics and the relationship between fish bones and the esophageal wall. Binary Logistic regression was used to explore the associations between the potential risk factors (independent variables) and the complications (dependent variables).

RESULTS: Forty-six cases had complications associated with ingestion of fish bones, which included erosions (23, 30.26%), lacerations (10, 13.16%), ulcers (8, 10.53%), and perforation (5, 6.58%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the esophageal wall being penetrated by fish bone, obvious symptoms, history of strong swallowing and duration of impaction ≥ 24 h were significant independent risk factors for complications (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The risk for complications in patients with the esophageal wall being penetrated by fish bone or obvious symptoms is higher. In patients who have no history of strong swallowing or receive early diagnosis and treatment, the risk of complications is lower.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis accompanied by thyrotoxicosis after fine-needle aspiration: treatment with catheter drainage

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is commonly used in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases. Serious complications are rare and this procedure is generally safe. Acute supurative thyroiditis (AST) after FNA has been seldomly reported. We report a case of a 57-year-old women with diabetes mellitus who developed AST with thyrotoxicosis after FNA. She was successfully treated by sonographically guided percutaneous drainage and antithyroid agent.

Metallic foreign body deep in the prevertebral space after an endomyocardial biopsy: a case report

Introduction

Although inspirated or ingested foreign bodies constitute a common otolaryngologic emergency, the removal of a solitary retained foreign body from the neck has seldom been described in the literature. The ingestion of foreign bodies commonly results in perforated viscose or extraluminal migration to adjacent structures quite a long period of time after the fact. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first English language description of an endomyocardial biopsy complicated by a retained foreign body deep in the prevertebral space of the patient’s neck. We report such a case and share our experience in treating it.

Case presentation

A 68-year-old Asian man suffering right-sided heart failure underwent an endomyocardial biopsy via his right internal jugular vein. After undergoing the procedure, he was found to have retained a metallic cup tip which had become lodged in his neck. A surgeon then performed neck exploration and the foreign body was removed without adverse effect.

Conclusions

Decision making as to whether to remove the foreign body or not remains controversial. However, the later incidence of adhesive fibrosis or, even worse, of a catastrophic abscess or adjacent vascular injury might occur if the foreign body was not removed. Early exploration is suggested, if the patient’s condition makes this feasible.

Migration of a swallowed blunt foreign body to the neck

Ingestion of foreign bodies is a common problem in the otolaryngology practice. Reports of extraluminal migration of the foreign bodies from the upper aerodigestive tract are rare. Penetration and extraluminal migration of ingested foreign bodies may cause severe vascular and suppurative complications, even death. We report a 4-year-old girl who presented with a mass and partial extrusion of a foreign body in the neck. She had a history of ingesting the plastic top piece of a knitting needle approximately 1 year ago. She had been asymptomatic until the present time. The examination revealed a red, blunt, rectangular plastic foreign body half embedded in the skin of the right neck. Esophagography with barium swallow, cervical X-rays, and computed tomography scans were obtained. The foreign body was easily removed under general anesthesia. Primary closure and direct laryngoscopy was also performed. The patient recovered very well without any complications.

Migrating Ingested Foreign Body of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract with Resultant Septic Shock: Case report and literature review

Complications due to foreign body ingestion are rare; however, if present, these can cause significant morbidity to the patient. An overlooked ingested foreign body could present as an emergency and may prove fatal. We present a case of an accidentally ingested foreign body with delayed presentation, which migrated to the neck and produced a cervical abscess presenting as septic shock. The patient required prompt stabilisation followed by surgical intervention. The patient's vital signs returned to normal on the second post-operative day, and he was discharged the following day.

The utility of repeated computed tomography to track a foreign body penetrating the esophagus to the level of the thyroid gland

OBJECTIVE

Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common problem in otolaryngology. One uncommon complication of FB ingestion is penetration to the level of the thyroid gland. To our knowledge, only 21 such cases have been reported in the literature. Here, we report a case of an esophageal FB penetrating to the level of the right thyroid gland.

CASE REPORT

The patient was a 38-year-old woman in whom an esophageal FB penetrated to the level of the right thyroid gland. We traced the path to the thyroid gland using repeated computed tomography (CT) scans and demonstrated the importance of multiplanar reconstruction in locating the FB and formulating a precise surgical plan.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first report of repeat CT scans being used to demonstrate the migratory route, over time, of a FB penetrating through the esophagus to the level of the thyroid gland. Our results suggest that multiplanar reconstruction may play a key role in the precise diagnosis of a FB at the level of the thyroid gland and may help surgeons choose the best approach for removal.

[Aortic pseudoaneurysm as a complication of oesophageal perforation caused by a fish bone]

We describe the case of a 41 year-old female patient with acute thoracic and epigastric pain associated with dysphagia. Due to the acute onset and the intensity of symptoms an urgent gastroscopy was requested. This was delayed and only performed when further serious complications appeared. This showed an oesophageal perforation due to ingestion of a fish bone, and an aortic pseudoaneurysm. Early determination of the cause and the extraction of fish bone would have avoided the subsequent worsening and long term stay in the hospital. Special tests limitations often delay diagnosis with severe consequences for the patients.

Endoscopic removal of esophageal foreign body and drainage of thyroid abscess

This is a 58 year old male who presented to our institution with foreign body sensation after eating fish the night before. Although lateral soft tissue films of the neck demonstrated a linear foreign body, this was missed and the patient was discharged home. One week later, he re-presented with persistent throat pain. A computed tomography scan of the neck demonstrated erosion of the foreign body through the esophageal wall and a rim enhancing collection in the right thyroid lobe. The patient was admitted and broad spectrum antibiotics were started. Using a transoral endoscopic approach the abscess was drained and a 2.0 cm sharp fishbone was successfully removed from a perforation at the esophageal inlet. A nasogastric tube was placed and the patient was kept NPO for 14 days postoperatively while his perforation healed. He had improvement in his symptoms and was stable in follow up.

Thyroid abscess. A case series and literature review

Thyroid abscess is rare in children but the presence of previous thyroid disease, and congenital remnants such as a pyriform sinus fistula, are predisposing factors. The classical presentation consists of fever, cervical pain and a painful mass. The diagnosis is confirmed through clinical findings, and by diagnostic imaging (ultrasound and computerized axial tomography). A barium swallow must be performed in order to detect a fistula and to consider surgical drain. We present the cases of thyroid abscess in five patients who were admitted in four medical centers (Fundación Cardioinfantil, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Clínica infantil de Colsubsidio and Hospital de la Misericordia) in Bogotá, Colombia between 2000 and 2010.

Thyroid gland cutaneous fistula secondary to a migratory fish bone: a case report

Introduction

We report an extremely rare case of a migratory fish bone penetrating through the thyroid gland.

Case presentation

A 56-year-old Japanese woman presented with a two-month history of a painless cutaneous fistula in her anterior neck with pus discharge. Endoscopic examinations showed no abnormality, but computed tomography revealed a bone-density needle-shaped foreign body sticking out anteroinferior from the esophagus wall, penetrating through her left thyroid lobe and extending nearly to the anterior cervical skin. A migratory fish bone was suspected, and the foreign body was removed under general anesthetic, combined with a hemithyroidectomy. The injured esophageal mucosa was sutured and closed. Our patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and she was allowed oral food intake seven days after the surgery. No evidence of recurrence was seen over the postoperative follow-up period of 42 weeks.

Conclusion

We should be aware that fish bone foreign bodies may migrate out of the upper digestive tract and lodge in the thyroid gland.

An interesting journey of an ingested needle: a case report and review of the literature on extra-abdominal migration of ingested foreign bodies

Swallowed foreign bodies encounter a major problem especially in children, but fortunately they mostly do not cause any related complication and are easily passed with the stool. In this paper, an interesting journey of a needle is presented. A 20-year old female admitted to our emergency service after she had swallowed a sewing machine needle, which is initially observed in the stomach in the plain abdominal radiography. During the follow-up period, the needle traveled through bowels, and surprisingly was observed in the left lung on 10^th day of the follow-up. It was removed with a thoracotomy and pneumotomy under the fluoroscopic guidance. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the day 5. We also review the literature on interesting extra-abdominal migrations of swallowing foreign bodies.