An unusual cause of vomiting in a child

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Medical Imaging
• Foreign Body Ingestion

Background:

• Sudden onset vomiting and feeding refusal in infants can indicate serious underlying conditions.
• Accurate and timely diagnosis of esophageal foreign bodies is crucial in pediatric care.
• Diagnostic imaging modalities may not always reveal esophageal foreign bodies initially.

Observation:

• A 13-month-old boy presented with acute vomiting and inability to eat solid food.
• Initial barium swallow and CT scans of the chest were inconclusive.
• Endoscopy performed over a month later revealed a flower-shaped foreign body in the cervical esophagus.

Findings:

• An unusual, flower-shaped foreign body was lodged in the cervical esophagus.
• Successful endoscopic removal of the foreign body was achieved.
• Retrospective review of imaging suggested the foreign body was present initially.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of considering foreign body ingestion in pediatric cases with sudden onset symptoms.
• Emphasizes the need for vigilant interpretation of imaging studies in diagnosing esophageal foreign bodies.
• Underscores the diagnostic value of endoscopy when initial imaging is inconclusive in pediatric patients.