Unusual journey of migratory foreign bodies in the alimentary tract

Foreign bodies are uncommon, and the migration of ingested or inserted foreign bodies within or out of the gastrointestinal tract is even rarer. Migration of foreign objects from the digestive system to the soft tissue in the neck, genitourinary tract, or abdominal cavity to intraluminal extension in bowel loops is an uncommon but well-reported occurrence. The accidentally retained surgical sponge (gossypiboma) following abdominal or pelvic surgery with transmural migration within the bowel is an extremely rare clinical presentation. The bowel can be penetrated by retained material, which moves within the bowel lumen, resulting in malabsorption, intestinal obstruction, either partial or complete. In a few cases, spontaneous expulsion occurs. The interpretation is done on radiographs in frontal and lateral projections X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasonography (USG). Computed tomography (CT) is helpful if a radiopaque foreign body is suspected and is the modality of choice. We share with you 2 instances of foreign items migrating outside the digestive tract with a possible history of ingestion and a case of transmural migration of the postcesarean section retained surgical sponge within the alimentary tract, causing bowel obstruction. Diagnosis and the exact location of a foreign body can be established with the judicious use of different modalities. A CT scan is the modality of choice because it provides a road map for surgical intervention.