Recurrent pneumonia caused by a migrated esophageal foreign body

Saibo Pan1, Ying Chai, Gang Shen

  • 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Insights

Accidental fish bone ingestion can lead to rare complications. A migrated esophageal foreign body caused recurrent pneumonia, misdiagnosed for five years, highlighting diagnostic challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Medicine
  • Pulmonology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Esophageal foreign bodies are common, but migration into the lung parenchyma is rare.
  • Recurrent pneumonia can be an unusual presentation of a migrated esophageal foreign body.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with a 5-year history of recurrent pneumonia.
  • The condition was initially misdiagnosed, delaying appropriate treatment.

Findings:

  • A migrated fish bone was identified as the cause of recurrent pneumonia.
  • Surgical removal via right upper lobectomy was necessary to treat the condition.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering rare causes of chronic respiratory symptoms.
  • Prompt diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing migrated esophageal foreign bodies to prevent severe complications.

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