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Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
[Foreign Body in Esophagus]
Yasushi Domeki1, Hiroyuki Kato
1Department of Surgery I, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
Insights
Esophageal foreign bodies are common in young children and the elderly. Diagnosis and treatment involve endoscopic removal, with surgery reserved for complex cases.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Geriatric Gastroenterology
Background:
- Esophageal foreign bodies present a significant clinical challenge, particularly in pediatric and geriatric populations.
- Commonly ingested items vary by age, including coins and toys in children, and food or medical packaging in adults.
- Foreign bodies typically lodge at points of esophageal constriction.
Observation:
- In children, treatment involves fluoroscopically guided removal using balloon or magnetic catheters, or endoscopic/esophagoscopic removal under general anesthesia.
- In adults, endoscopic removal is the primary treatment modality.
- Surgical intervention is indicated for cases with difficult endoscopic removal, esophageal perforation, empyema, or mediastinitis.
Findings:
- This review synthesizes current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for esophageal foreign bodies.
- It highlights age-specific risk factors and common etiologies.
- It details the efficacy of various minimally invasive and surgical treatment options.
Implications:
- Optimal management strategies can reduce morbidity and mortality associated with esophageal foreign bodies.
- Understanding age-related predispositions aids in targeted prevention and timely intervention.
- This review provides a comprehensive resource for clinicians managing these conditions.
Abstract:
An esophageal foreign body is the term for a foreign body in the esophagus. The 2 age groups most prone to this condition are children age 9 and under (and especially toddlers age 4 and under) and elderly individuals age 70 and over. A foreign body often lodges where the esophagus is most constricted. In toddlers, the foreign body is often currency or coins or a toy. In adults, the body is often a piece of fish, dentures, a piece of meat, a pin or needle, or a drug in its blister pack packaging. In children, an esophageal foreign body is treated by fluoroscopically guided removal of the body with a balloon catheter or magnetic catheter or removal of the body via endoscopy or direct esophagoscopy under general anesthesia. In adults, the best choice for treating an esophageal foreign body is removing the body with an endoscope but there are instances where surgery is performed because the body is hard to remove endoscopically, a puncture has occurred, or empyema or mediastinitis has developed. This paper reviews the diagnosis and treatment of an esophageal foreign body.
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