Embedded Fish Bone in the Upper Esophageal Sphincter that Was Localized and Removed Using Ultrasonography-guided Surgery

Abstract

The prevalence of people presenting with fish bone foreign body (FFB) is high in Asian countries, including Korea, and coastal areas around the world. Pointed linear-shaped FFBs are common in the oral cavity and upper esophageal sphincter, whereas large flat bones are more common FFBs in the esophagus. If the FFB is not found on endoscopy, residual foreign body sensation or embedded FFB is possible. In such cases, CT is helpful. However, in the case of totally embedded FFB, not only preoperative diagnosis but also localization during operation or surgery is important. If these are not performed, the initial incision site or operation method would be difficult to determine. For this purpose, no standard guideline has been established yet. We report a case of upper esophageal sphincter-embedded FFB diagnosed using CT rather than endoscopy. The bone was successfully localized using conventional ultrasonography during the operation and then removed surgically.

Keywords

• Fish bone
• Foreign bodies
• Pharynx
• Ultrasonography