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A prolonged buried fish bone mimicking Ludwig angina
1Department of Otolaryngology, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
American Journal of Otolaryngology
|December 18, 2009
Summary
A fish bone lodged in the tongue for 16 months caused infection, mimicking Ludwig angina. Computed tomography (CT) scans aided diagnosis and surgical removal of the rare foreign body.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Medical Imaging
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Foreign bodies in the neck typically require immediate removal.
- Prolonged retention of ingested fish bones, especially in the tongue, is rare and often asymptomatic initially.
Observation:
- A patient presented with symptoms suggestive of Ludwig angina, including fever, odynophagia, and tongue/mouth floor swelling.
- A computed tomography (CT) scan incidentally revealed a fish bone embedded in the tongue, present for 16 months.
Findings:
- The embedded fish bone was successfully removed via surgical exploration.
- Infection was the primary complication leading to diagnosis after prolonged asymptomatic retention.
Implications:
- Embedded foreign bodies, such as fish bones, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of conditions like Ludwig angina.
- CT imaging is valuable for detecting extraluminal foreign bodies in the neck region.
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