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Paediatric aerodigestive foreign bodies: remember the nasopharynx
S D MacNeil1, J P Moxham, F K Kozak
1Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Introduction:
Nasopharyngeal foreign bodies are relatively uncommon, compared with other aerodigestive sites. They may mimic a lower airway location, or may be coughed up into the nasopharynx prior to endoscopic evaluation.
Objective:
To describe our experience with nasopharyngeal foreign bodies mimicking a more distal airway location.
Method:
Case series from a tertiary referral children's hospital.
Results:
We present a series of four children who were initially thought to have a lower aerodigestive tract foreign body (three respiratory, one oesophageal), but who were finally diagnosed with nasopharyngeal foreign body. The concept of panendoscopy at all foreign body removals is suggested as a means to avoid a missed nasopharyngeal foreign body.
Conclusion:
Although nasopharyngeal foreign bodies are uncommon, their rare ability to mimic distal sites mandates a thorough endoscopic approach to ensure that all sites (i.e. larynx, lungs, oesophagus and nasopharynx) are evaluated endoscopically.
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