Esophageal ingested body in a child with calcified ligamentum arteriosum: a case report

Chiara Costantini1, Giuseppe Minniti2, Silvia Bertolo3

  • 1Pediatric Surgery Unit, Cà Foncello Hospital, Treviso, Italy.

Insights

Calcified ligamentum arteriosum can mimic foreign bodies in pediatric patients. Advanced CT scans are crucial for accurate diagnosis, preventing unnecessary surgical interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Calcification of the ligamentum arteriosum is a post-closure phenomenon of the ductus arteriosus.
  • Foreign body ingestion is a frequent pediatric emergency, often presenting with vague symptoms.

Observation:

  • A child presented with blood in saliva, initially suspected to be due to foreign body ingestion.
  • CT imaging revealed a hyperdense object in the aorto-pulmonary window, suggestive of a metallic foreign body.

Findings:

  • Surgical exploration identified calcification of the ligamentum arteriosum, with no foreign body present.
  • Multi-section CT scans offer superior visualization of this condition compared to X-rays.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering ligamentum arteriosum calcification in the differential diagnosis of suspected foreign bodies in children.
  • Accurate radiological assessment is vital to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgical procedures.

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