Unusual oropharyngeal foreign body

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Case Reports

Background:

• Foreign body ingestion is common in pediatrics but rare in adults.
• Swallowed sewing needles pose a significant risk due to their sharp nature and potential for deep tissue penetration.
• The parapharyngeal space is a critical anatomical region with vital neurovascular structures, making foreign body retrieval challenging.

Observation:

• A young male patient presented after swallowing a sewing needle with a bolus of food.
• The sewing needle traversed the soft palate and lodged within the parapharyngeal space.
• Diagnostic imaging, specifically image intensification, was crucial for localizing the foreign body.

Findings:

• The sewing needle was successfully retrieved from the parapharyngeal space.
• The surgical removal was performed without intraoperative or postoperative complications.
• The patient experienced an uneventful recovery following the procedure.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering unusual foreign body ingestions in adults.
• Image intensification is an effective tool for the diagnosis and guided removal of deeply embedded foreign bodies.
• Prompt and successful intervention can prevent serious morbidity associated with parapharyngeal foreign bodies.