Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2025
07:57
Necropsy-based Wild Fish Health Assessment
Published on: September 11, 2018
17.3K
Intragastric fish bones migrate into the liver: A case report
Mu-Gen Dai1, Jing-Jing Zheng2, Jie Yang3
1Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui 323000, Zhejiang Province, China.
World Journal of Clinical Cases
|June 5, 2023
Summary
A rare case of a fish bone migrating from the stomach to the liver was successfully treated with laparoscopic surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment of intrahepatic foreign bodies are crucial to prevent severe complications.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Hepatology
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
Background:
- Foreign bodies in the digestive tract are common, but migration into the liver is exceptionally rare.
- Intrahepatic foreign bodies often present with complications like perforation or abscess formation.
- Laparoscopic surgery is an effective method for removing intrahepatic foreign bodies.
Observation:
- A 55-year-old male presented with fever and right flank pain.
- Abdominal CT revealed a foreign body within the liver; gastroscopy showed no significant gastric erosion.
- Laparoscopic exploration identified an intrahepatic abscess containing a fish bone.
Findings:
- A fish bone migrated from the stomach, penetrating the liver parenchyma.
- The intrahepatic abscess was successfully drained and the fish bone removed laparoscopically.
- The patient's symptoms resolved post-operatively.
Implications:
- Intrahepatic foreign bodies, though uncommon, necessitate prompt diagnosis and intervention.
- Delayed treatment can lead to serious complications, including intrahepatic abscess and potential liver resection.
- This case highlights the importance of considering visceral migration of foreign bodies in clinical diagnosis.
