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Suspected esophageal coin--look again
Kenneth Frumkin1, Michael Lanker1
1Naval Medical Center, 620 John Paul Jones Circle, Portsmouth, VA, 23708, USA.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|July 25, 2015
Summary
A child swallowed objects, initially thought to be a coin, but closer inspection revealed they mimicked a disk battery. This case highlights critical differences in managing ingested coins versus batteries and the importance of accurate radiograph interpretation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Emergency Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Esophageal foreign body ingestion is common in children.
- Disk battery ingestion is a surgical emergency due to rapid tissue damage.
- Coin ingestion requires different management strategies than battery ingestion.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old asymptomatic child presented with suspected esophageal coin ingestion.
- Radiographic findings suggested disk battery ingestion, a critical surgical emergency.
- Surgical exploration revealed superimposed coins mimicking a disk battery.
Findings:
- Radiographic appearance can be deceptive, mimicking serious ingestions.
- Distinguishing between coin and disk battery ingestion is crucial for appropriate management.
- Superimposed coins can present a rare radiographic mimic of a disk battery.
Implications:
- Emphasizes the need for careful radiographic interpretation in suspected foreign body ingestions.
- Highlights critical differences in the emergency management of ingested coins versus disk batteries.
- Underscores the importance of surgical consultation for suspected disk battery ingestions.
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