Ingested metallic foreign body lodged within the appendix

Abstract

Ingested foreign body is a common health problem encountered by pediatric surgeon. Most of these cases, the foreign body passes through the gastrointestinal tract without causing further complication and only rare cases they get lodged within the appendix and require surgical intervention. This case report describes an incidental finding of metallic foreign body in the right lower quadrant region in the abdominal x-ray of 3-year-old boy. Serial abdominal radiographs during the following 3 months revealed the persistent presence of foreign body in the same region and its mobility pattern that is characteristic of foreign bodies within uninflamed appendix. An elective appendectomy was performed in order to avoid further complications. Keywords: Appendectomy, Appendix, Foreign body, Metallic