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Appendiceal foreign body in an infant
1Department of Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University - Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
Insights
Appendiceal foreign bodies are rare, especially in infants. This case report highlights the diagnostic and management challenges, particularly for asymptomatic cases in young children, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of treatment guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pediatrics
Background:
- Foreign body ingestion is a common cause of pediatric hospitalization.
- Appendiceal foreign bodies are uncommon, with limited established treatment guidelines, particularly in infants.
Rationale For This Case Report:
Many children are hospitalized because of foreign body ingestion. In such circumstances, the gastroenterologist must consider the timing of ingestion; the size, type, and location of the object ingested; and the patient's symptoms. But appendiceal foreign body in infant is very rare.
Patient Concerns:
A 12-month-old boy visited because of swallowing small objects 2 weeks ago. Three small beads were found in the right lower quadrant on abdominal radiography. A 7-year-old boy was admitted for treatment of appendiceal foreign body, which was detected by accident 3 months ago.
Diagnoses, Interventions, And Outcomes:
A 7-year-old boy had abdominal pain and underwent immediate appendectomy. However, the 12-month-old child was asymptomatic, which led to deliberation in regard to wait time for an appendectomy in younger children with asymptomatic appendiceal foreign body. He underwent prophylactic appendectomy after 2 months.
Main Lessons:
An appendiceal foreign body is very rare in infant and there are currently no treatment guidelines. We report 2 cases of appendiceal foreign body including infant who gave us difficult decisions.
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