Serial MRI Findings After Endoscopic Removal of Button Battery From the Esophagus

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate findings at serial MRI after endoscopic removal of a button battery from the esophagus in a series of pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Serial MRI examinations after removal of a button battery from the esophagus were reviewed retrospectively for the presence of mediastinal edema; imaging characteristics of the aorta and arteries; imaging characteristics of the trachea; and imaging characteristics of the esophageal wall at the level of injury. RESULTS. A total of 48 MRI examinations were performed on 19 patients, 89% (17/19) in the first 48 hours after battery removal. Serial MRI was performed for 84% (16/19) of patients. Initial MRI showed extensive mediastinal edema in all 17 patients who underwent MRI in the first 48 hours. Edema directly abutted major arteries in all 17 patients and abutted the airway in all 10 patients with proximal esophageal injury. Arterial vascular changes were seen in 30% (3/10) of patients with proximal esophageal injury and 57% (4/7) of patients with mid or distalesophageal injury. Airway changes were seen in 80% (8/10) of patients with proximal esophageal injury. Serial MRI showed improvement of airway changes in all patients and improvement in vessel wall changes in all but one (25%, 1/4) of the patients who had mid or distal esophageal injury. Four patients (21% [4/19]) had contained esophageal leak on esophagrams. No patients in our series developed a tracheoesophageal or vascular-enteric fistula. CONCLUSION. Our case series provides important information on natural history of MRI findings in children after endoscopic removal of a button battery from the esophagus. Further studies are needed to determine the imaging findings most sensitive and specific for severe complications, such as tracheoesophageal fistula and vascular-enteric fistula.