[An ill woman with persisting globus]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine
• Medical Case Reports

Background:

• Foreign body ingestion is a common occurrence, but migration and unusual localization are rare.
• Digestive tract foreign bodies can present with diverse symptoms and complications.

Observation:

• A 56-year-old woman presented with a migrating foreign body within her digestive tract.
• The foreign body was initially missed during outpatient flexible endoscopy.
• The object ultimately lodged in the prevertebral space.

Findings:

• The primary complication observed was mediastinitis, a serious infection of the chest.
• Clinical presentation included malaise, fever, and interscapular pain.

Implications:

• This case highlights the potential for delayed diagnosis of migrating gastrointestinal foreign bodies.
• It underscores the importance of considering unusual presentations and complications like mediastinitis.
• Flexible endoscopy may not always detect foreign bodies, necessitating further investigation if symptoms persist.