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Published on: November 25, 2025

Duodenal obstruction secondary to date stone impaction

M El Fortia1

  • 1Department of Radiology, Misurata Teaching Hospital, Misurata, Libya. elfortia@doctor.com

Ultraschall in Der Medizin (Stuttgart, Germany : 1980)
|February 17, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Conventional sonography precisely diagnosed a 10-year-old child's duodenal obstruction caused by a swallowed date stone. This non-invasive imaging avoided surgery, enabling successful endoscopic removal and a smooth recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Non-invasive imaging is crucial for rapid emergency diagnosis.
  • Advances in imaging technology are transforming emergency care algorithms.
  • Foreign body ingestion can lead to critical gastrointestinal obstruction.

Observation:

  • A 10-year-old child presented with symptoms of acute intestinal obstruction.
  • Suspicion of a foreign body impaction in the duodenum was raised.
  • Conventional sonography was employed for diagnostic evaluation.

Findings:

  • Sonography precisely diagnosed a date stone causing duodenal obstruction.
  • The diagnosis by sonography obviated the need for initial laparotomy.
  • Endoscopic removal of the foreign body was successfully performed.

Implications:

  • Non-invasive imaging, like sonography, can effectively manage pediatric intestinal obstruction.
  • Accurate diagnosis via imaging can prevent unnecessary surgical interventions.
  • This case highlights the value of ultrasound in pediatric emergency diagnostics.

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