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Subcutaneous emphysema due to bronchial foreign body demonstrated by multidetector-row computed tomography

Nisar Ahmad Wani1, Umar A Qureshi, Tasleem Kosar

  • 1Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Sher-I- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Lung India : Official Organ of Indian Chest Society
|November 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Foreign body aspiration in young children can cause unusual symptoms like surgical emphysema. Multidetector-row CT and virtual bronchoscopy aided in diagnosing and locating the foreign body for removal.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Pulmonology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Foreign body aspiration is a common cause of emergency admissions in children under 3.
  • Presentations range from acute respiratory distress to asymptomatic cases.
  • Surgical emphysema is an uncommon manifestation of bronchial foreign body aspiration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report an unusual case of bronchial foreign body aspiration presenting with subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum in an infant.
  • To highlight the diagnostic utility of advanced imaging techniques in such cases.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of an infant with suspected foreign body aspiration.
  • Diagnosis confirmed using multidetector-row CT (MDCT) with virtual bronchoscopy.
  • Foreign body removal performed via rigid bronchoscopy.

Main Results:

  • The infant presented with subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum.
  • MDCT with virtual bronchoscopy successfully detected and localized the foreign body in the right main bronchus.
  • Rigid bronchoscopy enabled the removal of the intraluminal foreign body.

Conclusions:

  • Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum can be unusual presentations of foreign body aspiration in infants.
  • Multidetector-row CT with virtual bronchoscopy is a valuable tool for diagnosing and localizing bronchial foreign bodies.
  • Prompt diagnosis and removal are crucial for managing foreign body aspiration in children.

Keywords:
Foreign body aspirationmultidetector-row CT (MDCT)virtual bronchoscopy

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