Intracranial foreign metal body (sewing needle): A case report of infanticide attempt

Abstract

During a mandatory examination of a 25-year-old soldier in a psychiatric clinic, psychopathy features were observed, and an intracranial foreign metal body, a sewing needle, was found. The patient and his parents did not know the existence of the intracranial sewing needle until the examination. The parents could not give any anamnestic information to the doctor regarding the existence of the sewing needle in the intracranial region. Clearly, the sewing needle can be entered into intracranial region only till the period in which the sinciput becomes firm. As the needle tip was pointing down, the needle was deemed pricked intentionally. Further investigation showed that the patient was the only grandson in the family, near relatives enviously placed the sewing needle into his intracranial region from the sinciput to murder him while he was still a baby. The accident was evaluated as a result of an unsuccessful crime. Thus, instrumental examinations (roentgenography of the skull in two projections, computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance examination, etc.) are necessary for patients with psychiatric problems.

Keywords

• asymptomatic diseases
• foreign bodies
• ct scan
• x-ray
• radiology
• radiography