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Imaging gastric pennies in children

Joshua E Lane1, John M Boltri

  • 1Department of Family Practice, Mercer University School of Medicine, 3780 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, GA 31206, USA.

Emergency Radiology
|July 20, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Ingested pennies, especially those made after 1982 with higher zinc content, pose risks due to potential reactions in stomach acid. Radiographic examination is explored as a diagnostic tool for these cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Radiology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Foreign body ingestion in children is common, with pennies being frequent culprits.
  • Traditional management is conservative, but newer pennies (post-1982) have higher zinc content, raising toxicity concerns.
  • Previous research demonstrated in situ reactions of these pennies in simulated gastric acid.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of radiographic examination in assessing ingested pennies.
  • To understand the implications of post-1982 penny composition on pediatric foreign body ingestion management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of radiographic findings in pediatric patients with ingested pennies.
  • Correlation of radiographic appearance with penny composition and potential for gastric reaction.

Main Results:

  • Radiography can identify ingested pennies, including those with higher zinc content.
  • The study examines the diagnostic utility of imaging in cases of suspected zinc toxicity from ingested coins.

Conclusions:

  • Radiographic examination is a valuable tool in the diagnostic workup of children who have ingested pennies.
  • Understanding penny composition is crucial for assessing risks and guiding clinical decisions.

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