An Unusual Esophageal Foreign Body in a Psychiatric Patient: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Foreign body ingestion is a problem seen frequently in the emergency department, particularly in children and elderly patients. The possibility of foreign body ingestion should be considered in psychiatric patients. In some complicated cases, foreign bodies cannot be removed by esophagoscopy and require surgical intervention.
Case presentation: We present the case of a 50-year-old male with psychiatric disorder presented to our department with dysphagia after ingestion of stone piece or brick piece. CT scan of the neck revealed hyperdense substance (measuring approx. 4.0 X 3.5 cm) in esophagus at the level of lower border of C5 to C7. After a failed rigid esophagoscopic removal, he underwent surgery, with subsequent resolution of the condition.
Conclusion: Although in most cases of esophageal foreign body there is a spontaneous passage through the gastrointestinal tract, in some cases there is the possibility of requiring esophagoscopy (reported success greater than 95% of cases) or surgical treatment.