An occult foreign body aspiration with bronchial anomaly mimicking asthma and pneumonia

Foreign body aspiration has a wide range of outcomes, including immediate resolution, acute asphyxia, recurrent pulmonary disease and death. A 52-year-old man was misdiagnosed with asthma and pneumonia for 6 months. A thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan showed an endobronchial lesion in the right main bronchus. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed and the teeth were detected in the right main bronchus, in addition to tracheal bronchus. Aspirated teeth were removed using a rigid bronchoscope under general anesthesia. The patient having a trauma should always be carefully and systematically examined for foreign bodies. A rapid diagnosis depends on high clinical suspicion, clinical signs and radiological findings and the clinician must be aware of all complications of foreign body aspiration.