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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.
Abstract:
The calcification of ligamentum arteriosum occurs after the normal closure of the ductus arteriosus. Foreign body ingestion is a common event in the pediatric age, and it is frequently addressed in the Emergency Room. We report a case of foreign body in a patient with unknown calcification of the ligamentum arteriosum. His parents noted blood in the saliva, but he had no symptoms indicative of an acute clinical situation. The CT showed a hyperdense object in the aorto-pulmonary window with features compatible with a metallic object. The child underwent surgery, during which a calcified ligamentum arteriosum was found and no foreign body. This phenomenon has been described to be better identified using multi-section CT scans than X-Rays.
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