A rare case of foreign body inhalation masquerading as calcification in the right upper lobe suggestive of tuberculosis

Abstract

Airway foreign bodies are a common clinical emergency, predominantly occurring in children, with adults less frequently affected. Airway foreign bodies can cause a variety of symptoms, with adults more commonly presenting with cough, a factor that often leads to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. Due to anatomical features, most foreign bodies are more likely to be aspirated into the right bronchus, especially the right lower and middle bronchi, with the right upper lung less commonly involved. Here, we report a case where a small, sharp foreign body (a chicken bone) became lodged at the opening of the right upper lobe bronchus in a healthy middle-aged male. Initially, the foreign body was mistaken for an old tuberculous calcification due to recurrent coughing and shortness of breath over two years, misdiagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eventually, the foreign body was successfully removed. Therefore, the possibility of foreign body inhalation should not be overlooked in adult patients presenting with recurrent cough symptoms.

Keywords

• Misdiagnosis
• Persistent cough
• Airway foreign body
• Bronchoscopy
• Case report